South Korea's protective shield suddenly feels a little thinner as the United States has started moving key missile defence systems from the Korean Peninsula to the Middle East as tensions with Iran rise. The decision has unsettled many in Seoul and prompted fresh questions about how secure the country really is.
Officials say the alliance remains firm. Still, the removal of Patriot missile system units and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system has left some South Koreans wondering if their front line position against North Korea is quietly slipping down the priority list.
