Seoul, Washington Will Discuss Deploying US Air Defense Systems in S Korea

South Korea and the United States agreed to start talks on the deployment of an advanced US air defense system THAAD on the South Korean territory, local media reported Sunday, citing officials.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The announcement comes just hours after North Korea launched a long-range missile, defying a UN Security Council resolution banning Pyongyang from launching rockets that may be used as long-range ballistic missiles carrying nuclear warheads.

"The US and South Korea have decided to start official discussion on the possibility of US Forces Korea's deployment of THAAD as part of measures to upgrade the South Korea-U.S. alliance's missile defense posture against North Korea's advancing threats," the Yonhap news agenc quoted Yoo Jeh-seung, South Korean deputy minister for policy, as saying.

The United States has raised the possibility of a THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) battery deployment in East Asia in the past, a decision the Pentagon has said would be made through the trilateral Japan-South Korea-US security alliance talks.

China and Russia have expressed opposition to the controversial defense system, arguing it could upset the regional balance and be used against Chinese interests.