USFK Commander: "THAAD Remains on Korean Peninsula"...Statement Before US Senate

Senior US Military Official Confirms No THAAD Withdrawal for the First Time

"Munitions Standing By for Transfer... Significant Stir on the Korean Peninsula"

The Commander of the United States Forces Korea stated on April 21 (local time) that the United States has not relocated the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system from Korea to the Middle East for the Iran war. This is the first time that a senior U.S. military official has publicly confirmed that there has been no removal of the THAAD system.

Javier Brunson, Commander of the United States Forces Korea, during a press conference in August last year. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the Straits Times of Singapore and other sources, Javier Brunson, Commander of the United States Forces Korea, attended the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee on this day. In response to a question from Democratic Senator Gary Peters about how redeploying THAAD from the Korean Peninsula to the Middle East would affect deterrence against North Korea, he answered, "No THAAD system has been moved. THAAD is still on the Korean Peninsula."

Commander Brunson added, "We are sending munitions, and (the munitions) are on standby for movement." However, it remains somewhat unclear whether these munitions refer to those that are part of the THAAD system or general munitions. Based on the context of the statement, it is presumed to mean THAAD interceptor missiles.

He further explained, "We have been redeploying them. It appears that information has entered the public domain." He continued, "We have flexibly redeployed equipment, sequentially deploying it to Osan Air Base and preparing for the movement of munitions, which caused a major commotion on the Korean Peninsula."

Previously, The Washington Post reported on March 9, citing U.S. officials, that some elements of the THAAD system deployed in Korea were being moved to the Middle East, where the Iran war is taking place. These officials said that, as part of the response to the war, the military authorities were also drawing on stockpiles of Patriot interceptor missiles stationed in the Indo-Pacific region and other locations.

THAAD is a military system designed to intercept ballistic missiles at high altitudes and is deployed to defend Korea from nuclear-armed North Korea.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.