Protesters fight with South Korea police near THAAD site

June 15 (UPI) -- South Korean activists including members of religious groups clashed with local police outside the THAAD site in Seongju.

Confrontations took place on Wednesday and reached a peak on Thursday, when local authorities dispatched a total of 200 police officers to clear the location of outdoor umbrellas and a desk that protesters were using as an inspection station for incoming and outgoing automobiles, Yonhap reported Thursday.

The officers delayed their takeover of the site and its equipment upon arrival because religious groups representing a Buddhist sect, a Protestant denomination,and a Catholic church each took turns conducting prayer sessions at around 4 p.m., Thursday.

On Wednesday 100 police officers were dispatched to the site and removed two signs from the road.

After the religious services, about 200 officers descended on the area at 6:27 p.m. Thursday, to clear the remaining material.

About 60 protesters clashed with police, and activists blocked the removal of the desk with their bodies. Some sprayed water on the officers, according to the report.

Police retreated after 10 minutes of struggle and one protester was injured.

Police stated the "desk and outdoor umbrellas on the road must be cleared, it is a violation of traffic laws."

The deployment of the U.S. missile defense system has also been the target of criticism in Russia, where officials claim THAAD could be used for surveillance.

Minister Dmitry Birichevsky of the Russian Embassy in Japan said THAAD is also being opposed in Russia because it poses a serious threat to Russian security, Japanese television network NHK reported Thursday.

Birichevsky said the THAAD interceptor missiles could actually be used in attacks, according to the report.

The Russian diplomat also said Russia had good reason to deploy missiles to the disputed Kuril Islands, another reference to THAAD in Korea.