Japan’s public broadcaster sends false North Korean missile alert, later apologizes

NewsBharati    17-Jan-2018
Total Views |

Tokyo, January 17: Amid high tension in Korean peninsula, a false North Korean missile launch alert urged Japanese citizens to take shelter. The alert was sent by Japan's public broadcaster NHK Television. Minutes later it was corrected, as well as NHK apologized for the incident. In Hawai, same incident took place few days ago.

"North Korea appears to have fired a missile," NHK said. In addition to that, it added a government warning too. "The government: Seek shelter inside buildings and basements," NHK added. The message was issued on its internet and mobile news sites as well as on Twitter. The message conveyed that government has asked citizens to take shelter and evacuate. Among the highly tensed situation it could create a bad panic stricken emergency.

NHK later said, the mistake was done by a staff operating alert system. It also issued correction with earnest apology. "The flash was a mistake," NHK said. "We are very sorry." Japanese media usually issue each missile alert.

Few days ago, Hawaii's Emergency Management Agency sent a mistaken warning of a North Korean missile attack which triggered panic. But the Hawaiian agency took far more time to delete the false alert after which it has simplified the system.

NHK Japan North Korean Missile Alert False Missile Alert Hawaii