U.S. soon to announce deployment of anti-missile system in S. KoreaJune 2, 2016 - 18:04 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Plans for the deployment of the U.S. THAAD anti-missile system in South Korea are moving forward and an announcement can be expected soon, senior U.S. officials said on Thursday, June 2, Reuters reports. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter told reporters en route to a regional security meeting in Singapore, at which he will meet his South Korean counterpart, that recent North Korean missile tests showed the need for improved missile defenses, even though the test had been failures. "There have been five consecutive failures there, but...most of the world continues to be concerned about North Korean missile activity," Carter said after what U.S. and South Korean officials say was the latest failed test of a North Korean intermediate range Musudan missile on Tuesday. "Whatever the outcome of the test, the fact remains that they are trying to make those missiles fly - that’s the critical fact,” Carter said, according to Reuters. Carter said deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system would come up in his meeting on Saturday with the South Korean defense minister on the sidelines of the annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, but added: "It’s not something we need to discuss much because the plans are moving forward." He waved aside concerns expressed by China that deployment of the THAAD system’s radars on the Korean peninsula could upset the balance of power by reducing the strategic deterrence of the Chinese ballistic missile system. "This is an alliance decision; a decision of the United States and the Republic of Korea, which is about protecting us both from a North Korean missile attack ...The implementation will be a series of decisions that we take together and it’s for our own protection against North Korea. Everybody should understand that.” Another senior U.S. defense official said they were still “a lot of technical issues to get through,” but “we will have a public announcement soon.” “We are in the process of continuing our discussions on deployment and we will have an announcement when we’re ready,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Russia provides info about arrested Armenian ex-MP Russian law enforcement agencies have provided information about the arrest of Tigran Urikhanyan. Lemkin Institue slams Pashinyan's “cryptic engagement with Genocide denial” The Lemkin Institute is alarmed over Pashinyan’s statements “questioning Armenia's legal basis to pursue justice against Turkey”. 41 detained as antigovernment protests continue in Yerevan 41 people were detained in Yerevan as people demanding Pashinian’s resignation stage campaigns of civil disobedience. Armenia votes for UN resolution granting Palestine new rights The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on May 10 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine. |