A missile launched from North Korea caused panic on Hokkaido, a northern island of Japan, on Thursday when the government’s emergency alert system issued evacuation orders to residents.
Millions of people received a J-alert urging them to seek shelter as the missile appeared to be headed towards or near the island. However, the situation quickly turned from fear to anger and confusion as the evacuation order was lifted due to reports that it had been sent in error.
Local officials clarified that there was no actual possibility of the missile hitting Hokkaido, and Tokyo later confirmed that it had fallen into waters off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula, outside of Japanese territory.
The decision to send the alert was met with widespread criticism from many residents. They expressed frustration and anger at the false alarm, which had caused unnecessary fear and panic among the population.
Questions were raised about the reliability of the emergency alert system and the potential consequences of such errors.
Residents voiced concerns about the emotional toll and disruption caused by the evacuation order, and the subsequent confusion when it was lifted.
The incident also highlighted the delicate and tense geopolitical situation in the region, with North Korea’s missile activities posing a constant threat to neighboring countries like Japan.
Many residents called for improved accuracy and accountability in emergency alert systems to avoid similar incidents in the future and to ensure the safety and well-being of the affected communities.
Several Twitter users expressed their dissatisfaction with the J-Alert system, questioning its effectiveness and raising concerns about its practicality.
One user pointed out that if the system cannot accurately predict where a missile will fall, then it serves no real purpose other than instilling fear in the Japanese population and creating a sense of being targeted.
Another user highlighted the issue of limited time for evacuation, even if the alert was valid, indicating that finding shelter within the short timeframe would be challenging.
These comments reflect the frustration and skepticism among some residents about the functionality of the emergency alert system.
The uncertainty of missile trajectories and the potential inadequacy of response time were criticized, suggesting that improvements may be needed to make the system more reliable and effective in providing accurate information and actionable instructions during critical situations.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno addressed the situation at a press conference in Tokyo on Thursday, defending the government’s response while acknowledging that the information issued by the J-Alert system was not corrected.
Matsuno did not provide detailed explanations for the error, but expressed that the government took the situation seriously and would work to prevent similar mistakes in the future.
The statement by Matsuno reflects an acknowledgment of the lapse in not correcting the information that was disseminated through the J-Alert system.
It indicates that the government recognized the need for improved accuracy and timely updates in emergency alerts to ensure the reliability of such systems during critical situations.
The recent incident with the J-Alert system is not the first time issues have occurred.
In October of the previous year, Japan had already apologized for the malfunctioning of the early warning system, which mistakenly sent alerts to residents in nine towns and villages in Tokyo’s islands, even though the ballistic missile fired by North Korea did not pass over those areas.
The latest alarm was triggered by North Korea’s launch of a mid or longer range ballistic missile from near Pyongyang at around 7:23 a.m. local time on Thursday, as reported by South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The South Korean military believes that Pyongyang was conducting a test of a new type of solid-fueled ballistic missile, which had been showcased in a military parade.
Solid-fueled missiles are known for their quicker launch times and ease of mobility compared to liquid-fueled long-range missiles previously tested by North Korea.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno defended the government’s response to the recent incident, stating that the initial alert was deemed “appropriate” based on the limited information available at the time, and that the alert was updated once it was confirmed that the missile would not fall near Hokkaido.
These events highlight the ongoing challenges and complexities faced by Japan and its emergency alert system in the face of North Korea’s missile activities, and the need for continued improvements in accuracy and reliability of such systems.
In addition to the possibility of testing a new type of solid-fueled missile, there are speculations that North Korea may have been testing a part of a reconnaissance satellite, such as a sensor, as stated by an official. North Korea had announced last year that it would complete preparations to launch a military reconnaissance satellite by this month.
According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missile was launched at a lofted trajectory and flew about 1,000 kilometers (621 miles).
Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada suggested that the missile may have been an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the longest range among North Korea’s ballistic missiles, but further analysis was needed to confirm details. The missile fell into waters outside of Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), as reported by Hamada.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno condemned the launch as an “outrageous act that escalates provocations against the entire international community,” and highlighted that North Korea’s repeated launches of ballistic missiles pose a threat not only to Japan, but also to the region and the world.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff also denounced the launch as a “significant act of provocation” and called on North Korea to immediately stop, emphasizing that such ballistic missile launches are in violation of the UN Security Council resolutions.
This latest launch marks the 12th day this year that North Korea has fired at least one missile, further intensifying concerns and tensions in the region.