By Ian Werther in News — 14 Mar 2026

U.S. reportedly weighing exporting THAAD assets from South Korea amid Middle East tensions

The U.S. military is reportedly weighing the export of some THAAD assets from South Korea as concerns over a protracted Middle East crisis persist. At Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, U.S. forces were observed inspecting Patriot PAC-3 air-defense missiles amid talk that THAAD components could be moved overseas.

Government sources say the U.S. Army in Korea is preparing to send abroad not only Patriot batteries but also some elements of the THAAD system. Even if some THAAD components are relocated, officials note it is unlikely that launchers or other key equipment would be removed together with intercepted missiles.

Six THAAD launchers from the Seongju base in North Gyeongsang Province were reportedly moved to Osan. One launcher returned to the base on the night of the 12th, but it has not been confirmed whether missiles were loaded on the returning launcher.

On November 22, 2005 a successful launch was achieved of a THAAD interceptor missile. This test starts a new round of THAAD developmental testing that builds on the investment from earlier THAAD tests, which included two consecutive target intercepts in 1999. It is the first missile defense system that is capable of intercepting a target missile both inside and outside the atmosphere. — Representative image for context; not directly related to the specific event in this article. License: Public domain. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Seongju residents in the Soseong-ri area and local civic groups have long opposed THAAD, citing health concerns from radar and electromagnetic emissions and the area’s potential military targeting. They view the recent movement as evidence that a full withdrawal should be pursued.

A six-organization coalition called the THAAD Withdrawal Peace Council issued a statement on November 11 urging the United States to halt what they term deceptive THAAD operations and to withdraw the entire system, including the radar, from Korea.

The first of two Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors is launched during a successful intercept test. The test, conducted by Missile Defense Agency (MDA), Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) Operational Test Agency, Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense, and U.S. Pacific Command, in conjunction with U.S. Army Soldiers from the Alpha Battery, 2nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, U.S. Navy sailors aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Decatur (DDG-73), and U.S. Air Force airmen from the 613th Air and Operations Center resulted in the intercept of one medium-range ballistic missile target by THAAD, and one medium-range ballistic missile target by Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD). The test, designated Flight Test Operational-01 (FTO-01), stressed the ability of the Aegis BMD and THAAD weapon systems to function in a layered defense architecture and defeat a raid of two near-simultaneous ballistic missile targets — Representative image for context; not directly related to the specific event in this article. License: Public domain. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Former Justice Party lawmaker Kim Jong-dae posted on social media on November 12, noting the political and financial costs of deploying THAAD in 2016 and criticizing past government and defense officials for their stance. He said the likelihood of THAAD missiles returning to Korea is low and suggested that future operations could rely on radar networks linked to Japan.

In background, THAAD has been deployed at Seongju since September 2017 as Korea’s sole high-altitude missile defense system. It intercepts missiles at altitudes of roughly 40 to 150 kilometers and comprises a battery with a fire-control element, a radar unit, and six launchers, each mounting eight interceptors for a total of 48 missiles per battalion.

For U.S. readers, the episode highlights how U.S.-Korean alliance defense assets are managed amid shifting regional tensions. It underscores ongoing domestic tensions over U.S. weapon systems on Korean soil and the potential implications for deterrence, alliance cohesion, and the stability of East Asian security architecture amid broader U.S. and allied defense priorities. There has been no official confirmation of any immediate plan to export THAAD components.

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