Seongju residents protest against THAAD deployment

Protests against the deployment of an advanced US missile defense system are continuing in South Korea's Seongju County. They have been happening since the central government chose the county as the site for the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system - also known as THAAD - on July 13th.

Residents have been rallying outside the local government building for the past 10 days. The deployment has prompted a lot of worry and concern.

SEOUL, July 21, 2016 (Xinhua) -- A senior official of Seongju county (2nd L, front) attends a rally to protest against the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in Seoul, capital of South Korea, on July 21, 2016. More than 2,000 people from Seongju county, where one THAAD battery will be deployed, gathered at a square in Seoul for a rally on Thursday, to protest against the deployment of THAAD. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

SEOUL, July 21, 2016 (Xinhua) -- A senior official of Seongju county (2nd L, front) attends a rally to protest against the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in Seoul, capital of South Korea, on July 21, 2016. More than 2,000 people from Seongju county, where one THAAD battery will be deployed, gathered at a square in Seoul for a rally on Thursday, to protest against the deployment of THAAD. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

"To deploy THAAD in South Korea will not only further worsen the relations between the Republic of Korea and the DPRK, but also negatively affect the situation in Northeast Asia, and push South Korea to the brink of war. Therefore, we must oppose it," said one protester.

"If THAAD is deployed in Seongju, there will be U.S. forces. I have heard about the scandals involving U.S. troops in other countries, so as a mother with daughters, I am deeply worried and strongly oppose THAAD," said another protester.

Seoul and Washington are hoping to deploy a THAAD battery by the end of next year - that includes launchers, interceptors and radar, and fire control systems.

Seoul will provide the site and infrastructure for the project, while Washington will pay for operations and maintenance.

THAAD is designed to defend against short- and medium-range ballistic missiles by intercepting them high in the atmosphere, or outside it.