A Public television broadcaster on Tuesday sent a false alert message about an inbounding North Korean missile. A bit later they rectified their mistake, it comes days after a similar kind of hoax message was spread in Hawaii.
NHK published the news on their website and twiter claiming that the government has advised people take take safe shelter.
“North Korea appears to have fired a missile,” NHK said, adding that a government warning had been issued. “The government: Seek shelter inside buildings and basements.”
A similar kind of hoax message send the people of Hawaai into frenzy.
NHK said the mistake was the result of an error by a staff member who was operating the alert system for online news, but did not elaborate. NHK deleted the tweet and text warning after several minutes, issued a correction and apologized several times on air and on other formats.
“The flash was a mistake,” NHK said. “We are very sorry.”
Tension has grown in Japan over North Korean missile tests as they have flown closer to Japanese coasts. NHK and other Japanese media generally alert each missile test, and the government has issued emergency notices when the missiles flew over Japan.
Japan is also stepping up its missile intercepting capabilities and conducting missile drills across the country in which residents, including schoolchildren and elderly people, rush to community centers, cover their heads and duck down to the floor. A major drill is planned in downtown Tokyo next week.
Unlike the mistaken Hawaii warning, the NHK alert did not contain the statement, “This is not a drill.” NHK was able to correct its error in a few minutes, far faster than the nearly 40 minutes that elapsed before the Hawaii alert was withdrawn.
The Hawaii agency has now changed its protocols to require that two people send an alert and made it easier to cancel a false alarm.
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