SEOUL, March 6 (Reuters) – South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said on Friday the U.S. and South Korean militaries are discussing the possible redeployment of some U.S. Patriot missile defence systems based in South Korea to be used in the war against Iran.
Cho was responding to questions at a parliamentary hearing following media reports on Friday that units of the U.S. mobile missile interceptor system had been moved to the Osan Air Base in South Korea from other locations in the country.
* Cho said he was unable to comment when asked whether theU.S. plan is to move the Patriot missiles soon to use in theconflict against Iran. * He said Seoul has not received any requests fromWashington for military help. U.S. President Donald Trump hassaid he would take any assistance from any country on Iran. * U.S. Forces Korea said: “For operational securityreasons, we do not comment on the movement, relocation, orpotential repositioning of specific military capabilities orassets.” * Media reports citing South Korean government sourcessaid the Patriot systems were being readied for redeployment inthe Middle East, with heavy U.S. military transport planeshaving flown into Osan to move them. * U.S. and Israeli forces have been striking strategictargets inside Iran for the seventh day under a campaign thatTrump said was aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear weapons andballistic missile capabilities * South Korea hosts a major U.S. military presence incombined defence against nuclear-armed North Korea, with about28,500 troops and surface-to-air defence systems, including thePatriot missile interceptors.
(Reporting by Jack Kim, Heejin KimEditing by Ed Davies)
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