A U.S. missile defense system for defending against North Korean attack poses no risk to South Korean residents or the environment, Seoul announced Wednesday, clearing the way for the full deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery.

The conclusion of the yearslong environmental impact survey into the THAAD battery outside Daegu enables the U.S. and ROK military forces to improve infrastructure at the site, following years of protests by residents concerned about safety risks and negative impacts on farms and the economy.