North Korean Missile Alert Shakes Japan Again, False Alarm Sparks Accuracy Debate

"Please evacuate immediately to a nearby building or underground. Please evacuate immediately."

Japan was thrown into chaos by a North Korean missile evacuation alert. Around 8 a.m. that day, in Hokkaido, the area where the alert was issued, all transportation including high-speed trains and airplanes was suspended. Instead of morning dramas, live broadcasts of real-time evacuation orders were aired, causing the entire archipelago to be in turmoil. However, 20 minutes later, the Japanese government corrected the alert by stating, "There is no possibility of falling on Japan," raising questions once again about the accuracy of the alert system.

On the morning of the 13th, NHK is providing evacuation information related to missiles.

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This evacuation order is issued by the nationwide alert system called 'J-ALERT.' This system sends evacuation notifications and disaster prevention information directly to local governments nationwide via satellite in emergencies such as missile falls, tsunamis, and earthquakes. The information is immediately notified to telecommunications companies and local government receivers, and the disaster prevention system in local governments automatically activates, broadcasting evacuation messages along with sirens.

The problem lies in accuracy. This was the seventh time J-ALERT was issued due to a North Korean missile. However, each time, it was found to be a false alarm. In November last year, an alert was issued claiming the missile passed over Japanese airspace, but in reality, the missile did not even cross the Japanese archipelago, and alarms were mistakenly sent as far as Tokyo, beyond the expected fall area of Hokkaido. It was revealed that the alert was issued because the message sent during drills was not deleted.

Additionally, the missile passed over Aomori Prefecture, which was included in the affected area, and the alarm sounded 13 minutes later, leading to criticism that "even if the alarm sounds, evacuation is impossible."

As delayed responses became problematic, Japan has been continuously working to improve the system. This time, the response was praised for being quick after the launch, but there were criticisms that the accuracy declined because it became harder to predict the fall point. In fact, the missile did not enter Japanese territory. The Ministry of Defense is still trying to determine the exact location where the missile fell.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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In the political sphere, controversy over a 'swing and a miss' continues. Koichi Hagiuda, Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's Policy Research Council, said regarding the information correction, "Repeated missile launches threaten Japan's safety," and added, "Since there was confusion surrounding the alert system this time as well, the circumstances must be verified, and any points that need improvement should be promptly addressed."

Hirofumi Yoshimura, Governor of Osaka Prefecture, also pointed out, "Will we continue to proceed with alerts that fail to demonstrate accuracy?" and warned, "If such incidents continue, the public will become accustomed to the alerts and lose their vigilance."

The opposition parties also sharpened their criticism. The Constitutional Democratic Party held a press conference urging, "It is not something to be criticized for preparing for emergencies, but please disclose information on how such an incident occurred." Related questions from opposition parties also continued during the House of Councillors meeting that day.

However, there were also reactions that it was appropriate to respond in advance since ballistic missiles reach their target within 10 minutes after launch. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said at a morning press conference, "Considering the role of quickly informing about risks such as missile falls, the alert was issued from the perspective of prioritizing safety," and stated, "The judgment was appropriate."

Regarding the issuance process, he explained, "At the time the missile was detected, it appeared there was a possibility of falling around Hokkaido, but later it disappeared from the radar."

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