Article content SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of - Dozens of people were injured in clashes between South Korean protesters and police Thursday as the U.S. military added more launchers to the high-tech missile-defence system it installed in a southern town to better cope with North Korean threats.
Article content Seoul has intensified its stance against Pyongyang, following its series of weapons testing. The latest detonation Sunday was of what North Korea called a thermonuclear weapon capable of reaching the U.S. continental.
US adds THAAD launchers as dozens of people are hurt in SKorea demonstrations.
The clashes happened as South Korean President Moon Jaein and Japanese Prime Minster Shinzo Abe met in east Russia. They reiterated their calls for stronger sanctions against North Korea over the country's nuclear ambitions. This demand is contrary to the stance taken by their host, Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin dismissed sanctions during a previous meeting.
The rural town of Seongju saw hundreds of protesters in riot gear being swarmed by thousands of police officers. They had been blocking a road that leads to an old golf course, where the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence System (THADS) is installed.
Article content The officers also broke windows of several cars used by protesters to block the road and tow them away. According to a Seongju fire department official, 38 people were hurt, including six police officers. None of them were seriously. The official spoke under anonymity due to office rules.
A number of U.S. military vehicles, including trucks with payloads wrapped in black sheets that looked like launchers, were seen heading towards the site.
A THAAD battery normally consists of six launchers capable of firing up to 48 interceptor missiles, but only two launchers have been operational so far. South Korea's Defence Ministry didn't immediately confirm that the four launchers added Thursday would be operationally capable. Seongju residents and activists are concerned about rumoured dangers to their health and the possibility of being subject to North Korean attacks.
Article content Moon and Abe met in Vladivostok and agreed to cooperate on seeking tougher United Nations Sanctions against North Korea. They also pledged to intensify efforts to persuade Beijing or Moscow to cut off oil supplies to North Korea, Yoon Young-chan, Moon’s chief press secretary, said.
Moon had earlier met with Putin to urge Moscow to support more sanctions. But Putin asked for talks with North Korea and said sanctions are not the solution. Yoon stated that Putin expressed concern about the impact of cutting off oil supplies on regular North Koreans.
Putin stated that "we should not give into our emotions and push Pyongyang in a corner," after meeting with Moon at a conference on economic development in Russia's Far East. "As never before," Putin said in a news conference after meeting with Moon on the sidelines of a conference on economic development of Russia's Far East. He advised everyone to show restraint, and refrain from taking steps that would lead to escalation or tensions.
Article content Moon had earlier called for an exclusion of North Korean workers working overseas. They are a major source of foreign currency for the North. However, Putin stated that the problem should be solved diplomatically according to Seoul's presidential offices.
Putin will also be in Tokyo, and Abe said that North Korea must understand that there is no bright future if it continues on the current path.
THAAD was deployed by Washington and Seoul before a corrupt South Korean government was toppled. Moon, a liberal politician who called for diplomacy towards Pyongyang, was elected in May. However, the North's only response to the situation has been an escalation of weapons tests.
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Moon temporarily halted THAAD's installation to conduct environmental reviews and address residents' concerns. Moon ordered that his military work with American commanders in South Korea to temporarily install more launchers until the reviews are completed after North Korea's second flight test of a development intercontinental balistic missile.
Officials in South Korea believe THAAD will increase the country's missile defenses. At present, these systems rely on Patriots-based systems. However, it will deter North Korea who has missiles that are capable of firing from road-mobile launchers, submarines, or other means. They also claimed that health rumors are baseless and that no such issues had been reported at other THAAD facilities.
This report was contributed by Ken Moritsugu in Tokyo and Nataliya Vasilyeva, both from the Associated Press.
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