Context:

China issued a statement reiterating its long-standing objections to the presence of the US THAAD missile defense system in South Korea.

Explain: THAAD

• THAAD is an acronym for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, a transportable, ground-based missile defense system.
• THAAD is coupled with space-based and ground-based surveillance stations, which transfer data about the incoming missile and informs the THAAD interceptor missile of the threat type classification.
• THAAD is alarmed about incoming missiles by space-based satellites with infrared sensors.
• Key features of the missile system-
  • Shoots down short- and medium-range ballistic missiles in the terminal phase of their flight
  • Uses hit-to-kill technology – where kinetic energy destroys the incoming warhead
  • Has a range of 200km and can reach an altitude of 150km
  • The US has previously deployed it in Guam and Hawaii as a measure against potential attacks from North Korea
• This anti-ballistic missile defense system has been designed and manufactured by the US company Lockheed Martin.
• South Korea is not the only country with the THAAD missile defense system. It has been previously deployed in the UAE, Guam, Israel, and Romania.