The United States military conducted a site survey for deployment of the THAAD missile defense system, USFK announced Thursday.

United States Forces Korea (USFK), the U.S. military command in South Korea, conducted a survey of five locations last year to determine a suitable location for deploying the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system early last year. Among the sites surveyed were Pyeongtaek, Wonju, and Busan.

Although USFK conducted the site survey independently, the U.S. military has stated that it would only deploy THAAD to South Korea “in full consultation” with Seoul and would not do so unilaterally.