Seoul to measure electromagnetic wave near THAAD site

South Korea's Defence Ministry on Friday said it planned to measure the level of electromagnetic wave next week near the site where the US THAAD system is deployed.

According to a statement by the ministry, it would conduct an on-spot measurement on August 10 with the Environment Ministry and experts as part of the verification processes for the small-scale environmental impact assessment.

The team would review the adequacy of the measurement results of the small-scale green audit, including the levels of electromagnetic wave and noise near the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system.

The ministry submitted the small-scale assessment result on July 24 to the Environment Ministry, which has been reviewing it.

The small-scale green audit was conducted toward about 320,000 sq metre of land, the part of a former golf course in Seongju county.

The small-scale assessment had been carried out since December last year under the ousted President Park Geun-hye government.

President Moon Jae-in, who took office on May 10, ordered a "general" assessment of environmental impact on the THAAD site, which would be conducted while construction works are underway.

Residents and peace activists demanded a "strategic" green audit, which requires the withdrawal of the US missile shield and reviews the adequacy of the THAAD deployment from the very beginning.

The Defence Ministry has insisted that the THAAD's X-band radar emits a small level of electromagnetic wave, but the residents believed it was not measured when the radar was in a full operation.

The AN/TPY-2 radar is known to emit super microwaves, detrimental to human body and environment.

--IANS

py/vm