The system has ‘reached initial intercept capability’, a U.S. defense official states. It means THAAD is operational but not yet complete. The initial capability will be augmented later this year with additional hardware, official sources said.

The THAAD deal between the U.S and South Korea is not to the liking of China. They find the system a threat to their security and have introduced several economic sanctions for South Korea. The U.S. has also pressured China to use their influence on North Korea's capital Pyongyang to control the advancing nuclear missile programs.