WW3 fears grow as South Korea threatens to BLOCK Donald Trump's anti-missile system THAAD
SOUTH Korean activists have launched an audacious bid to block the US using its flagship anti-missile system THAAD.
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The £774million ($1billion) system was moved to South Korea last month amid mounting fears of a North Korean attack.
But more than 500 residents living near the deployment site have demanded a court injunction to stop it being used.
And at least a dozen people were injured in clashes with police after an anti-THAAD protest turned violent at the weekend.
South Korean presidential candidate Moon Jae-in, who is likely to win today's election, is an outspoken opponent of the system.
Speaking last year, he insisted backtracking on the plans would not cause tensions with Donald Trump's administration.
He said: "I don't think that the reconsidering of THAAD would harm the South Korea-US alliance."
South Korea could block Donald Trump's flagship anti-missile system THAAD
It's phenomenal, shoots missiles right out of the sky
Mr Trump has made it clear he is expecting South Korea to pick up the bill for the system.
He said: "I informed South Korea it would be appropriate if they paid – it's a billion-dollar system.
"It's phenomenal, shoots missiles right out of the sky."
Anti-THAAD campaigners clashed with police in South Korea at the weekend
The arrival of THAAD has also angered China, which fears the system's presence could threaten its own military security.
Chinese defence spokesman Yang Yujun said it "damages the regional strategic balance and stability".
He added: "The Chinese side is resolutely opposed to this."
China fears the system's presence could threaten its own military security
Former President Barack Obama's administration planned for the system to become operational later this year.
But growing tension in the region has forced America's hand.
North Korean despot Kim Jong-un has made series of aggressive comments in recent months, sparking fears of an all-out conflict.
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The system was designed to take down short, medium and intermediate range missiles outside of Earth's atmosphere.
A THAAD battery consists of six truck-mounted M1075 rocket launchers, with up to 72 interceptor missiles per truck.
It boasts a range of 200 km (124 miles) and fires its interceptors at speeds of up to 10,000 km/h (6,250 mph).