HAGATNA, GUAM—Guam officials were “ecstatic” on Tuesday as North Korea appeared to back away from its threat to fire four missiles toward the US territory in the western Pacific.
HAGATNA, GUAM—Guam officials were “ecstatic” on Tuesday as North Korea appeared to back away from its threat to fire four missiles toward the US 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 future or in the distant future, ” Lt. Gov. Ray Tenorio said.
Guam Homeland Security adviser George Charfauros dismissed reports of satellite images showing North Korea moving a missile into place for a possible launch.
He said he believed this was “just a show of force” to mark North Korea’s Liberation Day celebrations on Tuesday.
“It may be just a ruse. Today is a historic day for the Korean Peninsula. It is their Liberation Day… North Korea tends to use symbolism as part of their decision making, ” Charfauros said.
“We are almost ecstatic that (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-un has backed off, ” he added.
CNN reported that US spy satellites detected a North Korean mobile missile launcher being moved in a way indicating preparations were being made for a possible launch.
But tensions began to ease in Guam after Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim had examined plans to fire missiles near Guam, but made no move toward an immediate strike.
KCNA said Kim was briefed on the “plan for an enveloping fire at Guam” during an inspection on Monday of the Strategic Force command in charge of the nuclear-armed state’s missile units.
But Kim said he would “watch a little more the foolish and stupid conduct of the Yankees” before executing the order.
