SEOUL, South Korea >> Angry residents in a rural South Korean town have thrown raw eggs and water bottles at the prime minister to protest a plan to deploy a U.S. missile defense system in their neighborhood.

South Korea on Wednesday announced that the advanced missile system called Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense or THAAD will be placed in the southeastern town of Seongju to better cope with North Korean threats. Sangju residents launched protests, saying they fear possible health hazards from the missile system.

Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn traveled to Sangju on Friday to explain the decision but his speech was immediately disrupted by jeers.

Hwang didn’t appear to be directly hit by any objects as security guards used umbrellas and bags to protect him. But his suit jacket was tainted by eggs.