The U.S.-made THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system is now operational and capable of intercepting North Korean missiles, Washington and Seoul announced on Tuesday.

However, the system will most likely need a few additional touches to be integrated with the intelligence satellite, a missile expert told NK News.

“(THAAD is) operational and has the ability to intercept North Korean missiles and defend the Republic,” a U.S. defense official told AFP, while adding that the system had only “reached initial intercept capability.”

A few hours after AFP reported the U.S.’s comments, Seoul announced that the THAAD system was online.

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