The US may move its anti-missile system out of South Korea - and it's sparking unease

[UpInArms]

Source: BBC

The US is relocating parts of a missile defence system installed in South Korea to the Middle East, according to officials cited by the Washington Post and South Korean news outlets.

The reported move comes 12 days into the US-Israeli war against Iran, and follows reports suggesting Iran had destroyed a key radar used by the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense, or Thaad, system in Jordan.

Thaad was first deployed to South Korea in 2017 to protect against threats from nuclear-armed North Korea.

The move was met with anger and protests from South Koreans who feared it made them a bigger target, while China warned it could destabilise the region.

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgmlk8dlekgo

[James48]

1. It left last week.

There is no “may” about it. The U.S. Army removed both the THAAD system and some Patriot batteries out of Korea a week ago. They left on C-17 flights. There is reference to C-17 flights out of Osan Air Base taking them out several days ago.
See https://m.koreaherald.com/article/10692042

[Norrrm]

2. No problem. Donald can just send another love letter to Kim.

[samsingh]

3. essentially any country depending on the US can be left out in the cold

[Grins]

4. The Whack-a-mole presidency

He still doesn't' recognize you whack one mole another pops up.
Whack Iran, other countries get hit.
Fuel prices rise.
Conflict arise between allies.
Russia (without repercussions) sides with Iran.
China threatens to supply Iran.
You pull from Europe and Korea, you open the door to mischief.
Pull two carrier groups from the Med and Gulf of Mexico - same

He still doesn't' recognize the blow-back from his actions because he only thinks one-dimensionally - his.
He doesn't recognize the blow-back from his actions because HE'S A PSYCHOPATH!

[catsudon]

5. news out of taiwan

is pretty much consistent, this is a warning to president lee about being too close to china.

and the focus is going to be redirected to Japan (and by extension Taiwan).

now even people from lee's own party is trying distance themselves from lee, and trying to get that 500b investment to usa pass.

edit: it passed just today https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-12/south-korea-passes-us-investment-bill-as-trump-starts-new-probe

[EX500rider]

6. So maybe South Korea should buy some air defense units of Their Own?

South Korea's defense budget is bigger than the Norths entire GDP so they should be able to afford their own defense

[ProudMNDemocrat]

7. If the US pulls out of South Korea, all hell could break loose.

If it already hasn't.

My husband was there twice with part of his Air National Guard unit in 1988 and 1998. Tensions with the North has never ceased. Sure enough, Kim Jung Un will see this as an opportunity to attack the South with what conventional weaponry he has. The air base that protects much of Seoul and the surrounding areas depends on the US there.

Makes one wonder who is talking to Petey H and TACO?

[EX500rider]

8. Moving some air defenses to where they are needed is not the same as pulling out of South Korea

[Deminpenn]

9. Tells all we need to know about how thin

US defenses are.