Patriot Missiles And Hundreds Of US Military Personnel From The Middle East Return To South Korea

USFK Patriot missile battery in South Korea (Source: USFK/US Army/Sgt. Josephus Tudtud/35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade)

JAKARTA - Patriot missile defense batteries and hundreds of US military personnel returned to South Korea after being stationed in the Middle East, according to the US military.

US Military Command in South Korea (USFK) said troops from the 2nd Battalion, the 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment had arrived back in Ginseng Country after their assignment to the US Central Command (US CENTCOM) responsibilities region, where they have been stationed since March.

"About 500 battalion-level artillery personnel and units returned on October 30," a USFK official said, launching Anadolu from Yonhap November 6.

In August, USFK Commander General Xavier Brunson said Patriot batteries previously stationed in the Middle East would return to South Korea to receive the latest equipment upgrades.

South Korea is one of Washington's longest-serving military allies and hosts more than 28,500 US troops, along with Patriot missile batteries and other defense systems.

The South Korean military currently operates a domestically produced surface-to-air missile system and the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 US system, which is capable of intercepting missiles at a lower altitude than L-SAM.

For threats at higher altitude, South Korea relies on USFK's High Altitude Area Defense (TAR) Terminal system, which provides high-level interception at an altitude of 40-150 kilometers.