The remaining four launchers of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery from the U.S. were set up in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province early Thursday morning after a five-month delay.

That completes the deployment of a full set of six launchers and a radar system announced in July last year.

Police forcibly dispersed local resident and activists who had gathered to block the access road to the site in the small hours. Dozens suffered minor injuries in their struggle with the police and were treated in hospital, according to the police.

The Defense Ministry on Wednesday said, "After consultations with Washington, the additional THAAD launchers will be installed on a temporary basis together with other construction equipment and materials."

The four launchers, support vehicles and construction equipment started rolling by overland route from Camp Carroll in Waegwan, North Gyeongsang Province at dead of night.

Two launchers and a radar system were already installed in April before the process ground to a halt.