South Korea, US to Go All Out to Verify THAAD Radar Safety

South Korea and the United States will go all out to verify that the powerful radar used in the advanced anti-ballistic missile shield poses no health risks, the military said Sunday. 
Last week the allies picked Seongju county in North Gyeongsang Province, as the location for the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. 
Seoul and Washington said the location, 296 kilometers southeast of Seoul, is an ideal spot to guard key South Korean and U.S. military installations from evolving North Korean nuclear and missile capabilities. Residents in the region, however, have risen up in protest, claiming the AN/TPY-2 radar can cause cancer, infertility and hurt their crops, state news agency (Yonhap) reported. 
"To alleviate all concerns, an evaluation on health risks and environmental impact will be carried out during the construction of the THAAD site, as well as after the system is in place," a military source stressed. 
He said talks are planned with the U.S. to ensure that regular evaluations on the environmental impact can be carried out at the 110,000-square-meter installation. The official said such a move is unprecedented and reflects the importance the government places on laying to rest public fears. 
While speaking to Seongju residents last week, Defense Minister Han Min-koo vowed that environmental tests will be carried out at the proposed missile battery site. 
The government said that while residents and some in the opposition parties have expressed reservations about THAAD, its deployment will greatly enhance the country's ability to deal with the North's missile threat.

Source: QNA