Who Will Trump Go To War With First? China And Russia Threaten US After North Korea Fires Missiles

The U.S. has sent an advanced military defense system to South Korea in response to North Korea recently launching a series of missiles, inciting the anger of both China and Russia with each country condemning the move as threatening their respective security. Seoul received the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD) on Tuesday, one day after Pyongyang test-fired four ballistic missiles that landed in the Pacific Ocean near Japan, South Korea news outlet Yonhap reported.

China seemed to hint that the deployment could result in a military response.

"We solemnly object to South Korea and the U.S.' deployment of THAAD and will resolutely take necessary actions in order to safeguard our security interests," the Chinese foreign ministry said Tuesday. "Any consequences to follow the necessary actions should be bore by South Korea and the U.S. We strongly demand that the parties halt the THAAD deployment process immediately and not deviate to the wrong path any further."

Likewise, Russia, which is located nearby, was also impacted by the setting up of THAAD in South Korea, Russian owned news outlet Tass reported.

"In effect, Washington is creating a new regional segment of the US global missile defense system in North-Eastern Asia, close to the Russian border. This may put the security of our country at risk," said veteran politician Leonid Slutsky. "US moves to deploy the THAAD missile system in South Korea cause concern."

The U.S. defended the move as a necessary response to North Korea's repeated "provocative actions," the Associated Press reported. Previous test launches of ballistic missiles have resulted in numerous sanctions being placed on Pyongyang, but they have not appeared to be an effective deterrent.

"Continued provocative actions by North Korea, to include yesterday's launch of multiple missiles, only confirm the prudence of our alliance decision last year to deploy THAAD to South Korea," U.S. Pacific Command's Adm. Harry Harris said in a brief statement.

Rhetoric between President Donald Trump's administration and China has heated up in recent weeks over the disputed man-made territories in the South China Sea. Senior White House adviser Stephen Bannon has previously predicted that there was "no doubt" the U.S. would go to war over the islands and the heavily traveled waterway, which China has claimed as its own. Further, experts have warned that the U.S. and China would go to war against one another "with unparalleled violence and energy."

The deployment of the THADD missile defense system followed the Air Force sending its
"meanest, toughest, most tactical machine" -- 14 Super Hercules military planes -- to Japan in response to the mounting regional tensions.

"Today the United States of America delivered its premier, meanest, toughest, most tactical machine in the world, the J model," U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force commander Lt. Gen. Jerry P. Martinez said Monday. "When you look around the world at the threats that exist in this region, our friends in Japan, they need to know that the United States sends its best … we have the premier tactical airlifter now on Japanese soil."