South Korea's defense ministry affirmed Monday that there is no change in its plan to deploy the advanced US missile defense system THAAD here as early as possible. 
"There is no change in the basic position of South Korea and the US to proceed, as planned, with the preparations for the early operation of the THAAD system against North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile threats," Moon Sang-gyun, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, said at a press briefing. 
He added that the allies are in the "final stage of consultations" over the provision of land before full-scale construction work. 
South Korea has selected a golf course in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, as the site for the THAAD system. 
Moon indicated that its deployment won't be finished until South Korea's presidential polls. 
The White House foreign policy adviser, who accompanied US Vice President Mike Pence on his visit to Korea, said that the deployment of the THAAD system could take several months, and he believed that that the issue of completing the THAAD installation is up to South Korea's next president, he told reporters. 
While Seoul sees the move as a way of defending the country, Beijing is firmly opposing the deployment of THAAD, saying it undermines its national interests and destabilizes the balance of power in Northeast Asia.

Source: QNA