Protesters clashed with thousands of police at a South Korean village on Thursday as Seoul deployed the four remaining launchers of the U.S. anti-missile THAAD system designed to protect against mounting threats from North Korea.
The South's Defense Ministry confirmed on Wednesday the launchers would be installed on a former golf course near Seongju some 217 km (135 miles) south of Seoul. Two launchers and a powerful radar are already in place at the site as part of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system.
Early on Monday, around 8,000 South Korean police gathered in the village of Soseong-ri, along the only road that leads to the golf course, to break up a blockade of around 300 villagers and civic groups opposed to THAAD.