DND: North Korea's missile launch versus Japan 'very dangerous act'

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Philippine government expressed alarm over North Korea's ballistic missile launch that flew over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido on Friday.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana decried the North Korea's "very dangerous act," which he said was merely meant to "scare the neighboring countries" as Pyongyang continues to conduct nuclear tests.

Lorenzana feared that the Philippines might get hit amid the North Korea's ballistic missile drills.

"That is a very dangerous act by the North Korea. First, they keep flying, sending those missiles up without any reason, except to scare us on the neighboring countries," Lorenzana told a press conference.

"Second, they're technology is not accurate or they're might be aiming for some other but it will drop into another country, like the Philippines," he added.

In a report by Japan Times, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said North Korea fired an intermediate-range missile over Hokkaido Island that flew about 3,700 kilometers before falling into the Pacific Ocean.

It was Pyongyang's second test-flight over Japan, a close ally of the United States (US), in less than a month. It also followed the sixth and most powerful nuclear test by North Kor ea.

On August 29, the North Korea launched a ballistic missile that flew over Hokkaido Island and landed in the Pacific.

North Korea had threatened to "sink" Japan with a nuclear strike and turn the US into "ashes and darkness" for supporting the latest United Nations (UN) sanctions against it for its September 3 nuclear test.

The UN Security Council had approved new sanctions on North Korea after it carried out its sixth and largest nuclear test.

‘PH lacks preparations amid Pyongyang's nuclear tests'

Amid the growing tension between North Korea and the US, Lorenzana said President Rodrigo Duterte was "very much concerned" over the possible destruction it might bring to the Filipino people.

The Philippines' top defense official admitted that the administration lacks enough preparation, just in case the country gets hit by North Korea's continued launch of missiles.

On September 4, Kristoffer James Purisima, Civil Defense deputy administrator for administration, said the Philippine government laid down contingency measures to ensure the Filipinos' safety, following the provocative actions by North Korea.

But Lorenzana was not discounting the possibility that there would be casualties if North Korea's ballistic missile falls to the Philippine territory.

Lorenzana said all the government could do is to "just pray and hope" that the Philippines would remain safe.

"The President is very much concerned about these missiles from North Korea. We are afraid and that’s very concerning...And then, it has – how many? – 10 times powerful as one drop in Hiroshima. So it has 10 times destruction," he said.