The United States military moved parts of the controversial anti-missile defense system to a site in South Korea for assembly yesterday night.

The move which came earlier than expected led to protests by local residents and sparker criticisms that the US was rushing to get the system in place before the election of a president who would oppose it.

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD was agreed on by the US and South Korea last year to counter the threat of missile launches from North Korea.

The frontrunner in South Korea's presidential election which will take place on May 9th had promised to review the decision to host the anti-missile battery.