Seoul: The state audit agency announced on Monday that it has referred Chung Eui-yong, a former national security adviser, along with three other officials, to the prosecution for allegedly abusing their powers to intentionally delay the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), a U.S. missile defense system, in a southeastern county. According to Yonhap News Agency, the Board of Audit and Inspection found that Chung, who also served as foreign minister under the Moon Jae-in administration, and other senior government officials deliberately delayed the publication of the results of an environmental evaluation. This evaluation involved assessing the risks associated with electromagnetic waves and noise generated by THAAD's radars. The deployment of the THAAD system was initially agreed upon by South Korea and the United States in 2016, with the installation planned for Seongju, which is located 215 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The deployment process, including the launch pad and associ ated equipment, began the following year. The delay in the project's progress has now been attributed to the actions of Chung and the implicated officials, as per the findings of the audit agency.