The U.S. has decided to temporarily deploy an additional, highly advanced Patriot missile battery to South Korea as in order to provide it with more military might if issues with North Korea escalate further, as tensions between the North and South have risen to an all-time high, according to the Associated Press.
Lieutenant General Thomas Vandal, commander of the U.S. Eighth Army, said that the deployment of the additional Patriots is a readiness exercise for both the U.S. and South Korea.
"Exercises like this ensure we are always ready to defend against an attack from North Korea. North Korea's continued development of ballistic missiles against the expressed will of the international community requires the alliance to maintain effective and ready ballistic missile defenses," he said, according to The International Business Times.
The Patriot missiles, which will be flown from Fort Bliss, Texas this week, are among the most advanced in the U.S. arsenal. Known as Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missiles, the system is designed to shoot down short, medium, and intermediate ballistic missiles, reported Investment Underground.
The U.S.' decision was met with some criticism by a number of nations, including China and Russia, which stated that the U.S.' deployment of the missile systems might trigger an arms race in the region.
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