N. KOREA BACKS OFF THREAT

Island on alert despite Jong-un appearing not to launch missile attack

GUAM officials were “ecstatic” yesterday as North Korea appeared to back away from its threat to fire four missiles towards the United States 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 or distant future,” Lieutenant Governor Ray Tonorio said.

Guam Homeland Security adviser George Charfauros dismissed reports that satellite images showed North Korea moving a missile 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 decisionmaking,” he said after CNN reported on the US spy satellite pictures.

“We are almost ecstatic that Kim Jong-un has backed off.”

Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim had examined plans to fire missiles near Guam, but made no move towards a 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.”

As residents waited anxiously for the missile launch, they were woken just after midnight yesterday 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 ensuring that “hu man error will not occur again”.

Tonorio said Kim appeared to have “calmed down” 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.”

Guam’s citizens had been stoic through the crisis, with many saying they fear the looming typhoon season more than aggression from North Korea.

“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.

Tonorio said there was no change to the threat level in Guam. AFP