AFP, SEOUL: The United States will deploy new air defense Patriot missiles in South Korea later this year as part of its build-up against North Korea, military authorities said.
The US-South Korean combined forces command said a new US air defense brigade would arrive later this year with two anti-missile batteries and 500 soliders.
The reinforcement of the Patriot Advanced Capability-2 (PAC-2) and upgraded PAC-3 systems designed to destroy ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and aircraft is part of the 11-billion-dollar US military build-up plan in South Korea, the command said.
South Korea has been vulnerable to North Korea's artillery and missile attacks, according to US and South Korean military authorities.
“The deployment of this strictly defensive air defense artillery Patriot missile unit brings additional deterrent capabilities to the peninsula,” said Lieutenant General Charles Campbell, commander of the 8th US Army.
The United States has also been upgrading its air defense systems, already deployed in South Korea.
North Korea has deployed short-range Scuds and Rodong missiles with a range of 1,300 kilometers (800 miles), while actively developing longer-range Taepodong missiles.
