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| US to move missiles to Guam after North Korea threats | US to move missiles to Guam after North Korea threats |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The US is moving an advanced missile system to the Pacific island of Guam as a precaution following threats by North Korea, the Pentagon has said. | The US is moving an advanced missile system to the Pacific island of Guam as a precaution following threats by North Korea, the Pentagon has said. |
| The Department of Defense said it would deploy the ballistic Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System (Thaad) in the coming weeks. | |
| Pyongyang has threatened to target South Korea and the US in recent weeks. | Pyongyang has threatened to target South Korea and the US in recent weeks. |
| The state's warlike rhetoric follows new UN sanctions and joint military drills by the US and South Korea. | The state's warlike rhetoric follows new UN sanctions and joint military drills by the US and South Korea. |
| The Thaad system includes a truck-mounted launcher, interceptor missiles, and AN/TPY-2 tracking radar, together with an integrated fire control system. | The Thaad system includes a truck-mounted launcher, interceptor missiles, and AN/TPY-2 tracking radar, together with an integrated fire control system. |
| 'Real and clear danger' | 'Real and clear danger' |
| The Pentagon said the missile system would be moved to Guam, a US territory with a significant US military presence, as a "precautionary move to strengthen our regional defence posture against the North Korean regional ballistic missile threat". | |
| "The United States remains vigilant in the face of North Korean provocations and stands ready to defend US territory, our allies, and our national interests," the Pentagon added. | |
| The US had already planned to send a Thaad system to Guam, but not under these circumstances, analysts say. | |
| Wednesday's decision to expedite the transfer underlines how seriously Washington is taking Pyongyang's threats, but it should be viewed as a purely defensive move, not an escalation, Riki Ellison, chairman of the Missile Defense Advocacy Group, told the BBC. | |
| He said the Thaad system would only protect Guam and the surrounding area, and would not cover South Korea or Japan. | |
| In recent weeks, North Korea has mentioned military bases in the US territory of Guam and the US state of Hawaii as possible targets. | In recent weeks, North Korea has mentioned military bases in the US territory of Guam and the US state of Hawaii as possible targets. |
| "Some of the actions they've taken over the last few weeks, present a real and clear danger," said US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel, in his first major speech on Wednesday since taking up his post. | "Some of the actions they've taken over the last few weeks, present a real and clear danger," said US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel, in his first major speech on Wednesday since taking up his post. |
| He added that Pyongyang had also threatened the interests of South Korea and Japan. | He added that Pyongyang had also threatened the interests of South Korea and Japan. |
| The North has apparently been angered by UN sanctions imposed after a recent nuclear test. Pyongyang has escalated its warlike rhetoric amid the current round of US-South Korea military drills. | The North has apparently been angered by UN sanctions imposed after a recent nuclear test. Pyongyang has escalated its warlike rhetoric amid the current round of US-South Korea military drills. |
| The US has recently made a series of high-profile flights of stealth fighters and nuclear-capable B-52 bombers over South Korea. | The US has recently made a series of high-profile flights of stealth fighters and nuclear-capable B-52 bombers over South Korea. |
| Officials have also confirmed that the USS John McCain, an Aegis-class destroyer capable of intercepting missiles, has been positioned off the Korean peninsula. | Officials have also confirmed that the USS John McCain, an Aegis-class destroyer capable of intercepting missiles, has been positioned off the Korean peninsula. |
| A second destroyer, the USS Decatur, has been sent to the region. | A second destroyer, the USS Decatur, has been sent to the region. |
| On Tuesday, US Secretary of State John Kerry called recent North Korean actions "dangerous" and "reckless". | On Tuesday, US Secretary of State John Kerry called recent North Korean actions "dangerous" and "reckless". |
| China, the North's only powerful ally, said it had despatched officials on Tuesday to hold talks with ambassadors from North Korea, South Korea and the US. | China, the North's only powerful ally, said it had despatched officials on Tuesday to hold talks with ambassadors from North Korea, South Korea and the US. |
| The Pentagon's announcement comes hours after North Korea closed a border crossing that allowed South Koreans to work at a jointly run industrial park - the first time such action has been taken since 2009. | The Pentagon's announcement comes hours after North Korea closed a border crossing that allowed South Koreans to work at a jointly run industrial park - the first time such action has been taken since 2009. |
| The border into the Kaesong industrial zone is the last functioning crossing between the two Koreas, and the complex is the last significant symbol of co-operation. | The border into the Kaesong industrial zone is the last functioning crossing between the two Koreas, and the complex is the last significant symbol of co-operation. |
| Kaesong is a key revenue source for North Korea. It has not indicated how long the entry ban will last. | Kaesong is a key revenue source for North Korea. It has not indicated how long the entry ban will last. |