S.Korean president mulls giving message to people over THAAD deployment

Demonstrators attend a protest against the deployment of the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system outside the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Sept 8, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

SEOUL - South Korean President Moon Jae-in was mulling giving a message to people over the deployment of the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system, according to local media reports.

An unnamed Blue House official told local reporters Friday that President Moon was considering giving a message to people over the THAAD deployment.

If there is any good message to people, it would be announced, but this issue has a very complicated feature, so it was still uncertain when the president's message would be given, the official was quoted as saying.

The official said President Moon was deliberating on a balanced message between South Koreans, the United States, China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

He added that there was a possibility for the president not to deliver any message to people.

Four more THAAD launchers and other elements were transported Thursday morning to the former golf course at Soseong-ri village in Seongju county, North Gyeongsang province.

On April 26, two launchers and other equipment were already delivered to the site in southeast of the country. One THAAD battery is composed of six launchers, 48 interceptors, the AN/TPY-2 radar and the fire and control unit.

With the additional installation and construction works, the US missile shield was forecast to get into full operation in the foreseeable future.

Hundreds of anti-THAAD protesters attempted to block the midnight transportation of the launchers, but they were violently dispersed by about 8,000 riot policemen.