South Korea and the United States have accelerated the controversial deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (Thaad) anti-missile system by flying in two mobile launchers and other equipment, in a move that drew a strong rebuke from China, which views the system as a security threat.

The components landed on Monday night at an air base south of Seoul, just hours after North Korea launched four missiles in protest against ongoing military drills between the US and South Korea, and amid heightened tension between Seoul and Beijing.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a regular news briefing yesterday that Beijing is firmly opposed to the deployment of Thaad.

… “To be fully operational, Thaad must be integrated into joint US-South Korea battlefield networks, operated by trained personnel under specific command structures and rules of engagement,” said Dr Michael Raska from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. “Therefore, while technical elements may be operational, the necessary organisational structures and supporting elements… may take more time.”