South Korea and the United States defense authorities jointly announced on Friday that they reached an agreement to deploy Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defend system in the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) in a bid to ensure “security and stability” of Korea and Asia-Pacific region against North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile threats.

Korea and the U.S. in the joint statement said that North Korea has threatened the security of South Korea and its people with its recent intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) launches as well as nuclear test and multiple ballistic missile tests. It said they are “working closely” for the swift deployment of THAAD battery in the Korean peninsula and will develop details on operational procedures.

Locations for the THAAD batteries will likely be announced within this month. The candidate locations are Pyeongtaek in Gyeonggi Province, Wonju in Gangwon Province, Eumseong in North Chungcheong Province, and Chilgok, North Gyeongsang Province.

According to the statement, the two nations had launched a joint working group reviewing “the military effectiveness of THAAD on the Korean Peninsula” for months, and they are in the final stage to make a recommendation to the defense ministers of the two nations on the best THAAD deployment site that will deliver the best effects as well as meet the environmental, health, and security requirements.

“(THAAD system on Korean peninsula) will be focused solely on North Korean nuclear and missile threats and would not be directed towards any third party nations,” underscored South Korean and U.S defense authorities in the statement.

Military experts say South Korean and U.S government are fully aware of the oppositions from China and Russia against the THAAD deployment in Korea. The Seoul government on Thursday, prior to releasing the joint statement, sent an advanced notification to neighboring countries including China and Russia informing them of the decision made on the advanced missile defense system and backgrounds.

“The THAAD deployment will contribute to a layered missile defense that will enhance the Alliance`s existing missile defense capabilities against North Korean missile threats,” said two nations in the joint statement.

Earlier on February 7, South Korean and the U.S. government announced that they started the official talks on the possibility of THAAD deployment in USFK after confronting North Korea’s nuclear test and long-range missile launch. The two countries had their first working-level conference discussing the missile defense system on March 4 and have conducted reviews on feasibility and candidate locations for THAAD deployment in the past several months.

Beijing and Moscow are vehemently against the installation of U.S. antimissile system as it would place their military bases under the powerful radar that can cover more than 1,000 kilometers.

By Ahn Doo-won

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