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[Anchor Lead]

One of the key components of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system has arrived in Korea. It’s called the X-band radar, and with its arrival THAAD batteries are likely to be deployed as early as next month.

[Pkg]

Authorities have launched an environmental impact assessment in the area that will host the U.S. missile defense system. If no problems are detected, preparations for hosting the anti-missile system will begin immediately. The military says it has already begun designing the site, and is in talks with the government of Seongju County on designating the area as a military installation protection zone.

[Soundbite] Moon Sang-kyun(Spokesperson, Ministry of Defense) : "We are preparing to host the missile defense system. Environmental impact assessment will begin in earnest after completing the basic design."

In addition to launch pads and radars, the remaining parts will arrive next week. Now that two vehicle-mounted launch pads and the X-band radar have arrived, as soon as the command and control vehicle and ancillary parts are all brought to Korea, all of the technical preparations for operating the missile defense shield will be over. The South Korean and U.S. military authorities plan to test the X-band radar this month, and deploy the missile defense batteries in Seongju as early as next month.