South Korea deploys two warships with missile-defense systems on east and west coasts

South Korea has decided to deploy two warships with missile-defense systems, one day after North Korea apparently moved a missile to its east coast.

Military officials told South Korean media the two warships would be deployed on east and west coasts.

Seoul has sought to play down North Korea’s latest move, saying they may be preparing for a missile test.

In recent weeks, North Korea has ramped up its rhetoric and made specific threats to target US territory.

One of the targets named by Pyongyang was the Pacific island of Guam, which hosts a US military base.

On Thursday, the US confirmed it would deploy a missile-defense system to Guam in response to the threats.

“The moves that we have been making are designed to ensure and to reassure the American people and our allies that we can defend the United States,” said US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.