U.S. To Test THAAD Missile Defense System In South Korea

A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor is seen in Seongju, South Korea, June 13, 2017. Picture taken on June 13, 2017. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

Reuters: Exclusive: U.S. plans to test THAAD missile defenses as North Korea tensions mount

The United States plans to carry out a new test of its THAAD missile defense system against an intermediate-range ballistic missile in the coming days, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Friday, as tensions with North Korea climb.

Despite being planned months ago, the U.S. missile defense test will gain significance in the wake of North Korea's launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on July 4 that has heightened concerns about the threat from Pyongyang.

The test will be the first of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) to defend against a simulated attack by an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), one of the officials said. The THAAD interceptors will be fired from Alaska.

The United States has THAAD interceptors in Guam that are meant to help guard against a missile attack from a country such as North Korea.

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Update #1: US to test THAAD missile defense system (CNN)
Update #2: US to conduct another THAAD test amid growing Korean Peninsula tensions (RT)

WNU Editor: Both China and Russia oppose this deployment .... China, Russia Share Opposition to U.S. THAAD in South Korea: Xi (US News and World Report/Reuters).