US Army THAAD launchers fully return to Seongju base in South Korea

Six US Army THAAD missile launchers, previously moved from their base in Seongju, South Korea, have now all returned. The launchers were temporarily relocated to Osan Air Base in Gyeonggi Province in March, a move that fueled speculation about their potential transfer to the Middle East amidst heightened US-Iran tensions.

Concerns arose that the launchers, or at least their interceptor missiles, might be deployed to the Middle East to bolster defenses against Iranian drones and rockets. The New York Times reported that the Pentagon's potential transfer of the THAAD system from South Korea could weaken US and allied capabilities to counter China's growing military power and assertive regional actions.

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No THAAD system has been moved from its deployment location.

However, US Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson stated in April that no THAAD systems had been moved from their deployment sites and that the system remained stationed on the Korean Peninsula. He clarified that the US Forces Korea were conducting ammunition transfer operations at the time.

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THAAD system is still deployed on the Korean Peninsula.

The THAAD system is the sole terminal high-altitude area defense system deployed in South Korea, operating at altitudes between 40 and 150 kilometers. Its deployment location is exclusively at the Seongju base in North Gyeongsang Province. A complete THAAD system comprises a battle management center, radar, and six launchers, with each launcher capable of carrying eight interceptor missiles, allowing for a maximum of 48 interceptor missiles per system.

South Korea and China have long been at odds over the THAAD deployment, with China advocating for a "three noes and one limit" policy, attempting to restrict South Korea's use of the THAAD system stationed at the US military base.

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US Forces Korea was conducting ammunition transfer operations.