The U.S. military has started to roll out Lockheed Martin-developed anti-missile defense systems in South Korea following four ballistic missiles launches from North Korea, Reuters reported Tuesday.
James Pearson and Ju-min Park write the U.S. military has initiated the deployment of  Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense interceptors to South Korea amidst North Korean missile launches that landed in the sea off Japan’s northwest region.
Lockheed’s THAAD platform is designed to intercept missiles inside and outside the atmosphere as well as defend population centers and high value infrastructure.
“Japan and the U.S. confirmed that the latest North Korean missile launches were clearly against U.N. resolutions and a clear provocation against the regional and international community,” said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The report noted that officials from the U.S. and Japan have also called for a United Nations Security Council meeting to discuss the North Korean missile launch activity.
South Korea and the U.S. agreed to deploy THAAD units on the Korean Peninsula last year in response to North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile tests.
