South Korea’s presidential office Friday reiterated that the U.S. advanced missile system would be deployed by the end of next year as backlash continued after President Park Geun-hye suggested the day before that she was open to considering changing the deployment location.

Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Jeong Yeon-guk told reporters the president’s remarks were intended “to respond to the request for a review” from the protesting residents. He added that the government would “look into other areas, but that changing the designated site would be difficult.”

During a meeting with the ruling Saenuri lawmakers representing North Gyeongsang Province on Thursday, President Park had said that the government could think about deploying Terminal High Altitude Area Defense artillery unit to a new location within the southern city of Seongju.

The comments came amid pushback from local residents and politicians representing them for potential health and environmental reasons, as well as fear of stoking security tensions.

The southern city has been a political stronghold for the president, whose approval rating has slipped since the announcement to deploy the THAAD battery there.