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US deploys more Patriot missiles in South Korea

February 12, 2016
Patriot suface-to-air missile (SAM) launcher. (Yonhap, file)

Patriot suface-to-air missile (SAM) launcher. (Yonhap, file)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — United States has temporarily deployed an additional Patriot missile battery in South Korea in response to North Korea’s nuclear test and a long-range rocket launch.

The announcement Saturday came as Seoul and Washington prepare to begin talks as early as next week on deploying a more sophisticated U.S. missile defense system in South Korea, known as THAAD.

The U.S. military command in South Korea says that an air defense battery unit from Ft. Bliss, Texas, has been conducting ballistic missile training using the Patriot system with other American forces based at Osan Air Base near Seoul.

Lt. Gen. Thomas Vandal, commander of Eighth Army, says “exercises like this ensure we are always ready to defend against an attack from North Korea.”