THAAD rollout to be delayed by ROK

Deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system in the Republic of Korea was expected to be delayed as President Moon Jae-in ordered an environmental evaluation of the US missile shield installation.

An unnamed South Korean Defense Ministry official was quoted by Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday as saying the large-scale assessment, which would normally take a year or so, would be shortened significantly.

Yonhap said that indicates completion by the end of this year. However, the official said the assessment would require hearings for residents near the THAAD site to voice their opinions, which would take several months.