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Another sensitive response from China is the USFK's high-altitude missile defense system, THAAD.

It has been temporarily deployed for 5 years in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, and it has been confirmed that the Ministry of National Defense will start a general environmental impact assessment next month to normalize the THAAD base.



Reporter Kim Tae-hoon, specializing in defense, reports exclusively.



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USFK THAAD base in Soseong-ri, Seongju-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do.



In April 2017, one THAAD battery consisting of a radar, fire control system, generator and six launchers was deployed.



However, it has not undergone a general environmental impact assessment and is currently in temporary deployment status.



It is not possible to carry out new or remodeling of the base, and it is not easy to bring in food and beverages because residents and members of civic groups are blocking the entrance to the base.



President Yoon Seok-yeol mentioned the possibility of additional deployment of THAAD during the presidential campaign, but at the government level, 'base normalization' is the priority.



[Park Jin/Minister of Foreign Affairs (Personnel hearing on the 2nd): The first task is to improve the already deployed THAAD so that it can operate normally.]



The Ministry of National Defense will start a general environmental impact assessment next month, and within this year It was confirmed as a result of SBS coverage that it was planning to normalize the base.



The environmental impact assessment begins with the establishment of an assessment committee composed of representatives of the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Environment, and local governments.



A key official from the Ministry of National Defense told SBS, "We will send an official recommendation letter to Seongju-gun as early as next week or early next month at the latest."



“If only the members of the local government are decided, it is possible to launch the committee and start the environmental impact assessment even within the next month,” the official added.



The general environmental impact assessment usually takes more than one year, but it is explained that the period can be significantly shortened due to the large amount of data from the Seongju base that has been accumulated.



However, Soseong-ri residents and civic groups are opposed to the environmental impact assessment itself, so pain and friction are expected from the process of establishing the assessment committee.



(Video coverage: Han Il-sang, video editing: Jo Moo-hwan)