THAAD prompts cruise lines to cancel stops in ROK

Uncertainties brought by the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) have cast a shadow on Chinese people's increasing enthusiasm to tour and shop in South Korea.

By Friday, at least five major cruise companies operating in China have changed course and pulled South Korea out of their port destinations due to public pressure.

For instance, Costa Cruises said on Friday that it will "remove calls to South Korean ports from our recent cruises based out of China, replacing them with cruising at sea or calls to destinations in Japan".