. Earth Science News .
TRADE WARS
Guam officials 'ecstatic' as North Korea holds off attack
by Staff Writers
Hagatna, Guam (AFP) Aug 15, 2017


Guam radio stations accidentally trigger emergency alert
Hagatna, Guam (AFP) Aug 15, 2017 - Guam residents received a nasty jolt Tuesday after two radio stations accidentally issued emergency warnings to indicate an imminent threat or attack, at a time when the US territory is already on edge over North Korean threats to fire missiles into nearby waters.

Several concerned listeners were reported to have called police after the stations triggered the Emergency Alert Broadcast System, issuing "a civil danger" warning at 12:25 am that was later confirmed to be a mistake.

North Korea had said it would finalise plans by mid-August on whether to fire missiles at Guam in response to "fire and fury" threats from US President Donald Trump.

But Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Tuesday reported that Kim had examined the plans but made no move towards an immediate strike.

"Residents and visitors are reminded to remain calm," said Guam's homeland security adviser George Charfauros.

"There is no change in threat level, we continue business as usual."

Homeland Security confirmed in a statement that the "unauthorised test was not connected to any emergency, threat or warning" and it was working with the radio stations "to ensure the human error will not occur again".

Kim on Tuesday hinted he would hold off on the missile strike, saying he would "watch a little more the foolish and stupid conduct of the Yankees spending a hard time of every minute of their miserable lot".

Guam officials were "ecstatic" Tuesday as North Korea appeared to back away from its threat to fire four missiles towards the US territory in the western Pacific.

"There doesn't appear to be any indication, based on what we're hearing, that there will be any missiles attacking in the near future or in the distant future," lieutenant governor Ray Tonorio said.

Guam Homeland Security adviser George Charfauros dismissed reports that satellite images showed North Korea moving a missile into place for a possible launch, saying it was likely "just a ruse".

"It is their Liberation Day... North Korea tends to use symbolism as part of their decision making," he said after CNN reported on the US spy satellite pictures.

"We are almost ecstatic that Kim Jong Un has backed off," he added.

Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim had examined plans to fire missiles near Guam, but made no move towards an immediate strike.

Instead he hinted he would hold off, saying he would "watch a little more the foolish and stupid conduct of the Yankees spending a hard time of every minute of their miserable lot".

Tensions have been mounting since North Korea last month conducted two intercontinental ballistic missile tests, which appeared to bring much of the US within range.

President Donald Trump responded by warning Pyongyang of "fire and fury like the world has never seen".

The North replied by setting a mid-August deadline to finalise plans to test-fire its missiles towards Guam, a US territory in the Pacific.

- False alarm -

As Guam residents waited anxiously for the deadline, they were woken just after midnight Tuesday by a "civil danger warning" that was accidentally broadcast by a radio station.

A statement from the Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense office said the "unauthorised test was not connected to any emergency, threat or warning" and it was working to ensure "human error will not occur again".

Tonorio said Kim appeared to have "calmed down" some of his rhetoric. "We're happy that he has taken a look at their plans and will be holding off on, at least it appears, the imminent threats to Guam," he said.

"At this point, our government is operating, our tourism is continuing to grow, there have been no major changes in our forecast."

Guam's citizens have been stoic through the crisis, with many saying they fear the looming typhoon season more than aggression from North Korea which has threatened the island several times in recent years.

"It doesn't change the way I feel. At the height of the threats, I was not worried. I have faith in the Lord," 58-year-old accountant Adoracion Manibusan said after Pyongyang took a step back from the brink.

"Besides, there is really nothing we can do if we get attacked. There's no place to hide," she said.

Despite the cooler language from North Korea, Tonorio said there was no change to the threat level in Guam, which is home to two large US military installations and more than 6,000 military personnel.

"I think the rhetoric is one thing but if we have any belief, as a country or as an island, that there is going to be a threat, we are going to be prepared. We are going to be ready for it," he said.

TRADE WARS
McDonald's to nearly double outlets in China
Beijing (AFP) Aug 8, 2017
Fast food giant McDonald's said Tuesday it would almost double the number of restaurants in China over the next five years as it refocuses on international markets amid slowing US sales. The Illinois-based burger chain will add 2,000 stores to its current 2,500 in China and aim for double-digit sales growth in each of the next five years, McDonald's said in a statement. In particular, it ... read more

Related Links
Global Trade News


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

TRADE WARS
Canada military sets up tents at US border for Haitian refugees

Brazil troops storm Rio slums to catch gang leaders

Tech advances will lead to MH370 discovery - Malaysia Airlines

Italy parliament approves Libya naval mission

TRADE WARS
BAE Systems reveals iMOTR radar system

Machine learning could be key to producing stronger, less corrosive metals

NASA Tests Autopilot Sensors During Simulations

Active machine learning for the discovery and crystallization of gigantic polyoxometalate molecules

TRADE WARS
Risky business for fish in oil-polluted reef waters

Japanese seaweed is welcome invader on US coasts: study

Climate change deepens threat to Pacific island wildlife

Teamwork key to ocean travel for jellies

TRADE WARS
Not all glaciers in Antarctica have been affected by climate change

Researchers crack the 'Karakoram anomaly'

Alaska's North Slope snow-free season is lengthening

Glaciers may have helped warm Earth

TRADE WARS
Disneyland China falls a-fowl of huge turkey leg demand

Dramatic changes needed in farming practices to keep pace with climate change

Cracking the code of megapests

Dutch egg probe widens to chicken meat tests

TRADE WARS
Tens of thousands evacuated after China quake kills 19

Atlantic hurricane season could be 'extremely active': As Franklin strengthens

Nearly 60,000 evacuated after China quake kills 19

Storm Franklin set to become a hurricane when it strikes Mexico

TRADE WARS
Calls for peace on eve of tense Kenya election

Zimbabwe confirms clash between soldiers and police

Rwanda's Kagame in landslide poll win with around 98% of votes

European support for Sahel 'mutually reinforcing': Germany

TRADE WARS
New look at archaic DNA rewrites human evolution story

Origin of human genus may have occurred by chance

Cultural flexibility was key to surviving extreme dry periods in Africa

Shedding light deeper into the human brain









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.