SEONGJU, South Korea, Sept. 6 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. military will deploy additional missile interceptor launchers to its base in a southern town early Thursday despite strong opposition from residents and activists, according to local villagers.
The residents' group in Seonju said Wednesday they have confirmed the information through various channels about the planned deployment of four launchers of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system at 2 a.m. on Thursday, in addition to two that are already installed.
"We think the authorities will notify the residents of the THAAD launcher installation plan this evening," the group said.
They oppose the deployment, arguing the THAAD battery could turn the village, some 300 kilometers south of Seoul, into a military target, and that electromagnetic waves emanating from its powerful radar could cause health and environmental problems.
Signs of the imminent deployment were detected in the morning when some 360 police troops -- much more than the usual 200 staff -- were dispatched to the THAAD deployment site apparently to prepare for possible clashes with protesters.
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