China lodges representations with ROK over THAAD launchers delivery

BEIJING - China has lodged representations with the Republic of Korea (ROK) over the delivery of four more US missile defense system mobile launchers to the ROK.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the above remarks Thursday at a daily press briefing, saying that China has expressed its serious concerns and solemn position over the issue to the ROK.

"We strongly urge the United States and the ROK to immediately halt the deployment and withdraw the THAAD system," she said.

Four mobile launchers were brought into the ROK in addition to the two units that had already been deployed as part of the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.

The US deployment of THAAD in the ROK seriously undermines China's strategic security interests and disrupts the strategic balance in the region, according to Hua.

She said that the THAAD deployment is not conducive to the goal of denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and runs counter to efforts to solve the issue through dialogue and consultation.