New Delhi, Mar 10: South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said that the United States and South Korean militaries are discussing the possible redeployment of some US Patriot missile defence systems stationed in South Korea for potential use in the ongoing conflict with Iran, according to Reuters.
Cho was responding to questions during a parliamentary hearing after media reports said units of the US mobile missile interceptor system had been moved to Osan Air Base from other locations within South Korea.
However, Cho said he could not comment on whether Washington plans to soon deploy the Patriot systems to the Middle East for the war against Iran. He also added that Seoul has not received any request from the United States for military assistance. US Forces Korea declined to comment on the reports, saying that for “operational security reasons” it does not discuss the movement or repositioning of specific military assets, reports the Reuters.
Media reports citing South Korean government sources said the missile defence systems were being prepared for possible redeployment to the Middle East, with heavy US military transport aircraft arriving at Osan Air Base to move the equipment. South Korea hosts around 28,500 US troops as part of the two countries’ joint defence posture against nuclear-armed North Korea, including surface-to-air defence systems such as Patriot missile interceptors.
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