China again calls for stop of THAAD deployment in ROK

BEIJING - China on Wednesday again urged the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) to stop deployment of an advanced US missile defense system in the ROK.

According to media reports, the ROK Ministry of National Defense concluded a deal Wednesday to acquire the site for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system from the Lotte Group.

The ministry has agreed to take over the Lotte Skyhill Country Club in the southeastern rural county of Seongju from the country's fifth-largest conglomerate.

"China has repeatedly expressed concern and firm opposition to the THAAD deployment," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang at a regular press briefing.

"We again urge all sides to face up to China's reasonable concerns and stop the deployment process," he said, adding that China will take necessary measures to safeguard its security interests.

Planning and construction work will begin in early 2017 with a THAAD battery to be installed before the end of the year.

Geng said the deployment of the system gravely undermined the regional strategic balance, as well as the security interests of countries in the region, including China.