SEOUL -- US forces in South Korea were preparing to relocate interceptor missiles of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery to the Middle East, a local newspaper said Wednesday.

An unidentified high-ranking South Korean government official was quoted by Dong-A Ilbo as saying that the THAAD interceptor missiles had been moved to the Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, about 70 km south of the capital Seoul, from Seongju county, North Gyeongsang province.

It was seen as the US Forces Korea (USFK) making preparations to redeploy the missiles to the Middle East, another official noted.

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According to the Washington Post, the Pentagon was moving parts of a THAAD battery from South Korea to the Middle East while drawing from its supply of Patriot interceptors in the so-called Indo-Pacific region and elsewhere.

Civic groups and residents living around the US THAAD base said in a statement that the THAAD, which threatened their sovereignty and peace, will no longer have a single justification to remain on their land following the movement to the Middle East.

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They opposed the redeployment of the THAAD launchers to South Korea from the Middle East, demanding that all remaining THAAD radar and equipment, as well as the THAAD base, should be withdrawn immediately.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said at a meeting on Tuesday that while South Korea expressed its opposition to the USFK withdrawing air defense weapons for its own military needs, the Asian country was not able to fully enforce its position.