U.S. Forces Korea announced Sunday the THAAD missile shield is now up and protecting South Korea from any attacks the North may launch.
THAAD — the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system — had been in place in South Korea with an additional four missile launchers since September, but the military unit required to operate the system only arrived Sunday to take command of it, according to Newsweek.
The unit was deployed last week from Fort Bliss, Texas, to Seongju, a U.S. military base 185 miles south of Seoul. South Korean soldiers will combine with the U.S. unit to form the Combined Task Force Defender.
A reflagging ceremony was held Oct. 19 to signify the Second Air Defense Artillery Regiment had realigned with 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade.
“Every phase of the operation has been an absolute team effort,” 35th ADA Brigade Executive Officer Major Benny Lee said during the ceremony, the Army website said. “From the moment the system rolled off the plane, it has been a collective effort with ROK and U.S. Soldiers and Airmen working side by side in defense of the Korean Peninsula.”
“It has been exciting and rewarding to be a part of this team,” D-2 Commander Captain Dwayne Solomon added. “I’m absolutely humbled to be part of a group that is literally writing history.”