GHS/OCD: No immediate threat to Marianas from North Korea launch

There’s no immediate threat to the Marianas from a North Korea launch on Monday, the Guam Homeland Security and Office of Civil Defense said in a statement.

Citing a statement from the South Korean Joint Chief of Staff, South Korean media reported that North Korea fired multiple unidentified ballistic missiles around 1:50 p.m. Monday toward the Yellow Sea.

On Guam, GHS/OCD, in conjunction with the Mariana Regional Fusion Center, federal and military partners, said they continue to monitor events surrounding the region.

“No immediate threat was assessed for the Marianas from the reported launch,” Homeland Security Advisor Esther Aguigui said in a statement. “The community is reminded to have preparedness plans for all hazards and all threats and become comfortable about discussing them with your families. Natural hazards are prevalent but it is important to have discussions for human-caused threats as well.”

There were no other details provided about the launch.

The North Korea launch came hours after South Korean and U.S. troops kicked off their large annual combined drills, which the North views as an invasion rehearsal, the Associated Press reported.