China threatens consequences for US missiles in South Korea

Beijing warned it would take “necessary measures” against the deployment of US missiles in South Korea. Tuesday, the U.S. deployed the first elements of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system to South Korea Tuesday, one day after North Korea launched at least four ballistic missiles, three of which landed within 350 km of the Japanese mainland.

Washington and Seoul say the system is defensive and not meant to be a threat to Beijing or Moscow. "Continued provocative actions by North Korea only confirm the prudence of our alliance decision last year to deploy THAAD to South Korea," Adm. Harry Harris, head of the U.S. Pacific Command, said in the statement.

"China firmly opposes the deployment of THAAD," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular briefing Tuesday. "We will definitely be taking necessary measures to safeguard our own security interest.