The U.S. missile shield set up during the last few months in South Korea is now officially fully operational and under the command of joint military forces.
The THAAD missile defense system was set up in April in South Korea to offer protection against the threat of ballistic missiles from North Korea.
On Oct. 19 an official ceremony marked the transfer of the missile unit from U.S. Command to that of the joint U.S.-South Korean command force—the USFK.
It adopted the name Combined Task Force Defender to reflect the new mission, according to a U.S. Army report, and will also include South Korean soldiers.
