SEOUL, March 25 (Xinhua) -- South Korean advocacy group activists gathered signatures of people on Saturday to prevent the "illegitimate" push to deploy a U.S. missile shield - Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) on their territory.
At the Gwanghwamun square in central Seoul where candlelit rallies had been held to force former President Park Geun-hye out of office, the signature-collecting campaign was conducted to urge lawmakers to stop the hurried push for THAAD deployment.
On March 6, two mobile launchers and other elements of the THAAD were flown to a U.S. military base south of Seoul. One THAAD battery is composed of six mobile launchers, 48 interceptors, one X-band radar and the fire and control unit.
Local state-run broadcaster KBS reported that the AN/TPY-2 radar was supposed to be delivered to South Korea on March 16, but it was not confirmed as the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) declined to reveal the arrival of other THAAD elements.
The hasty deployment "is illegitimate and violates the constitution," said a civic group activist who declined to be identified. She said the collected signatures would be presented next week to the parliamentary speaker and floor leaders of major political parties.
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