Patriot missiles redeployed from Korea amid Iran conflict

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said Seoul had no authority to prevent US forces stationed in the country from moving weapons to other regions. He was responding to reports that the United States had transferred some of its Patriot air defence systems from South Korea to the Middle East.

According to available information, the move is linked to the current conflict in the region, where US and Israeli forces are attacking strategic targets in Iran with the aim of weakening the country’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

Lee Myung-bak acknowledged that the South Korean government had expressed its disagreement with the transfer of weapons, but emphasised that decisions concerning US military technology rest with Washington. According to him, the redeployment of some systems will not weaken deterrence against North Korea, as South Korea significantly exceeds its northern neighbour in defence spending and conventional military capabilities.

South Korea hosts approximately 28,500 US troops and several air defence systems, including Patriot interceptors, which form part of the joint defence against Pyongyang’s nuclear programme.

(reuters, pir)