White House says US trying to deploy THAAD as soon as possible

The United States is working with South Korea to deploy the THAAD missile defense system as early as possible to defend the Asian ally and American troops there from North Korean missile threats, the White House said Monday.

The White House said in a posting at its "We the People" online petition website that Washington and Seoul decided to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery in the South because of "North Korea's continued provocations and refusal to engage in serious negotiations on denuclearization."

The posting was in response to a petition calling for scrapping the decision to deploy THAAD.

"The THAAD battery will be focused solely on countering the North Korean nuclear and ballistic missile threat. THAAD will improve the US-ROK joint missile defense posture in countering short-and medium-range regional ballistic missiles," the White House said.

"It will not undermine China's or Russia's strategic deterrent.

The United States is working with the ROK to deploy this system as soon as feasible in order to more safely defend our ROK Ally and US military personnel deployed to the region from the North Korea nuclear and ballistic missile threat," it said.

The White House also noted growing threats from the North.