Reuters: Putin says U.S. missile systems in Alaska, South Korea challenge Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that elements of a U.S. anti-missile system in Alaska and South Korea were a challenge to Russia and that Moscow had no choice but to build up its own forces in response.
Putin, speaking at an economic forum in St Petersburg, said Russia could not stand idly by and watch while others increased their military capabilities along its borders in the Far East in the same way as he said had been done in Europe.
He said Moscow was particularly alarmed by the deployment of the U.S. THAAD anti-missile system to South Korea to counter a North Korean missile threat and to reported U.S. plans to beef up Fort Greely in Alaska, a launch site for anti-ballistic missiles.
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Update: Putin: Russia will not sit idle while US deploys global anti-missile system (RT).
WNU Editor: Russian President Putin's remarks were made at an economic forum in St. Petersburg. The above video is his press conference with the international press at this forum.