Once again, Japanese citizens are being warned to seek emergency shelter after another reported missile launch. Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported that the missile flew over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. The launch was also confirmed by multiple international media.
The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD) said the launch was detected out of Sunan, North Korea and determined not to be a threat to Guam or the Marianas. GHS/OCD, working with military and federal partners, said they immediately notified of the situation. “There is no confirmed report at this time, whether the launch was considered successful,” according to a press release from GHS/OCD.
“The launch out of North Korea does not come as a surprise rather, it reminds us to always keep our emergency plans in place for any contingency,” stated George Charfauros, Guam Homeland Security Advisor. “Our office will continue to work closely with our military and federal partners to monitor the situation and provide information in a timely manner.”
The Japanese government, South Korea and the U.S. are reportedly assessing the launch, but it immediately triggered emergency alerts in Japan. The alerts warned residents that a missile had been launched and to seek shelter.
Guam’s delegate to Congress, Madeleine Z. Bordallo, said North Korea’s latest missile launch is a provocation of the international community and demonstrates the regimes unwillingness to halt its destabilizing actions.
“The United States is firm in our absolute and unwavering commitment to the security of Guam, as well as our allies in Japan, South Korea, and the region. Given the recent passage of additional UN sanctions on North Korea, the Trump Administration should intensify its efforts to work with the international committee, especially China, to make clear that North Korea’s latest action is abhorrent and will not be tolerated,” Bordallo said in a statement.
“Earlier this week I attended a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee on North Korea, and I continue to have full confidence in the defensive capabilities on Guam and in the region. Our community should be reassured that the DoD is prepared to protect Guam and keep our island safe.”
North Korea launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile from an airfield near Pyongyang at the end of last month. It crashed into the sea 700 miles east of Hokkaido but was widely seen as a practice of launching a missile on toward Guam.
Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense issued a news release stating that the latest launch posed no immediate threat to the island.