The United States is considering permanently stationing a terminal high-altitude area defense missile system in South Korea to help defend against North Korean nuclear and missile threats, a senior U.S. official said Tuesday.
The remarks came after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and former U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel openly mentioned the need for THAAD deployment in South Korea during their recent visits to Seoul, sparking speculation that the Barack Obama administration might have started making the issue public in earnest.