Threats and economic sanctions against South Korea having failed, China must now very carefully weigh its response to the arrival in South Korea of two launchers of the American-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.

The transporter erector launchers for the THAAD interceptors arrived at the U.S. Osan Air Base to the south of Seoul aboard U.S. Air Force Lockheed C-5 Galaxy military transport aircraft.

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South Korea's Ministry of Defense said two launchers and related equipment arrived on March 7. The other components of the complete THAAD system will arrive within the week.

A THAAD battery consists of six mobile launchers (each with eight interceptors); 48 missiles; two mobile tactical operations centers (TOCs); battle management/command, control, communications and intelligence (BMC3I) units and the AN/TPY-2 X-band ground-based radar. The X-band radar can detect missiles 2,000 kilometers away on a forward-based mode and 600 kilometers on a terminal mode.

The first two launchers will soon be transported to Seongju, in north Gyeongsang Province where the THAAD system will be installed. THAAD is meant to intercept and destroy short- and medium-range ballistic missiles during the last part of their flights.

The complete THAAD system will be up and running by May at the earliest and July at the latest. THAAD was initially slated for deployment by November, and the sped-up deployment seems to have been accelerated by North Korea's launch yesterday of two ballistic missiles that landed in the Sea of Japan off the west coast of Japan.

North Korea today announced this test was a practice run for an actual attack targeting U.S. bases in Japan.

"Continued provocative actions by North Korea, to include yesterday's launch of multiple missiles, only confirm the prudence of our alliance decision last year to deploy THAAD to South Korea," said Admiral Harry B. Harris, Jr., Commander, United States Pacific Command (USPACOM).

China responded to THAAD's arrival, saying it would take "necessary measures" to protect itself. It also warned the U.S. and South Korea should be prepared to bear unspecified consequences, likely economic and cultural.

TagsSouth Korea, Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, Seongju, Admiral Harry B. Harris, Jr., United States Pacific Command