The United States believes that the deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system to South Korea would be an "appropriate step to take at this point" as it will enhance security in the region, the Defense Department spokesman said Tuesday.

"The discussions about deploying a THAAD system will begin at some point this week. I don't have the exact day for you," Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said at a briefing. "This is an effort to try and put in place a defensive system that will bolster security in the region. And we think it would be an appropriate step to take at this point."

Shortly after North Korea's Feb. 7 missile launch, South Korea and the U.S. jointly announced they would begin official discussions on the possible placement of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile defense system in South Korea.

That ended more than a year of soul-searching by Seoul over how to deal with the issue amid Washington's desire to deploy the system and China's intense opposition to it. The North's twin provocations of its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6 and then a missile test a month later gave Seoul justification for the decision.

China has claimed THAAD can be used against it, despite repeated assurances from Washington that the system is aimed only at deterring North Korean threats. Beijing expressed regret after the South and the U.S. announced the decision to hold THAAD talks.

This week, China's Executive Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui reiterated opposition to the THAAD deployment. (Yonhap)