The already volatile situation around the Korean Peninsula is entering an even more dangerous stage, as Beijing is calling for an immediate halting of the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) deployment in South Korea.
The THAAD grid became operational on May 1. It is a purely defensive weapon system that targets incoming missiles in their latter stages. THAAD rockets contain no warhead, relying on sheer kinetic energy instead to shoot targets down.
Local residents are enraged by the presence of the weaponry in their midst, as they now believe North Korean may target their location.
Beijing has called for an immediate halting of the deployment, stating that it further destabilizes an already fragile situation.
North Korea has recently carried out two missile test that ended in failure. These ongoing tests are quoted by the US and its allies to bolster the defence capabilities in the region.