'America will be defended': Guam governor appeals for calm amid North Korea threat

Evening Standard ^ | Aug. 9, 2017 | TOM POWELL

[TigerLikesRooster]

'America will be defended': Guam governor appeals for calm amid North Korea threat

TOM POWELL

The governor of Guam has urged calm amid fears that North Korea is considering carrying out missile strikes on the US territory.

Residents of the Pacific island say they're afraid after being caught in the middle of rising tensions between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un.

North Korea’s official news agency said on Wednesday that it's examining operational plans for attacking the island, a US military hub about 1,500 miles south of Tokyo.

It came hours after President Trump threatened the communist country "with fire and fury."

But the governor of Guam, Eddie Calvo, reassured residents, saying that there was currently “no threat” to the area.

"An attack or threat to Guam is a threat or attack on the United States," said Calvo, who said he spoke with White House officials Monday morning. "They have said that America will be defended."

But residents were still concerned. Cecil Chugrad, a 37-year-old bus driver for a tour bus company in Guam, said: "I'm a little worried, a little panicked. Is this really going to happen?

"If it's just me, I don't mind, but I have to worry about my son. I feel like moving (out of Guam) now."

Guam's Homeland Security Adviser George Charfauros urged calm and said defences are in place for such threats.

Guam is armed with the U.S. Army's missile defence system known as Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, the same system recently installed in South Korea.

[TigerLikesRooster]

P!

[TigerLikesRooster]

Special Address August 9, 2017: Response to North Korea threat

Published on Aug 8, 2017

Hafa Adai my dear people of Guam,

I know we woke up to media reports of North Korea’s talk of revenge on the United States and this so-called new-found technology that allows them to target Guam.

I am working with Homeland Security, the Rear Admiral, and the United States to ensure our safety.

I want to reassure the people of Guam that currently there is no threat to our island or the Marianas. I spoke to Joint Region Marianas Commander Rear Admiral Shoshana Chatfield who confirmed this with me.

My Homeland Security Advisor who is in communications with Homeland Security and Department of Defense notes that there is no change in threat level resulting from North Korea events. HSA George Charfauros reminds us that there are several levels of defense all strategically placed to protect our island and our nation.

Additionally, I have reached out to the White House this morning. An attack or threat to Guam is a threat or attack on the United States. They have said that America will be defended.

I also want to remind national media that Guam is American soil and we have 200,000 Americans in Guam and the Marianas. We are not just a military installation.

With that said, I want to ensure that we are prepared for any eventuality. I will be convening the Unified Coordination Group, which includes myself and the Rear Admiral, to discuss the state of readiness of our military and our local first responders.

My office will continue to provide information to our community. What information we are given, we will pass it on to you.

[equaviator]

[Dog]

This heading for a bad place

[Redmen4ever]

An attack on the U.S. would be very foolish on the part of North Korea. We would respond from international waters, with cruise missiles, to take out the north’s command and control, including in particular Kim Jong Shi*t. Also, to position aircraft so as to disrupt any ground movement that could be construed as involving long-range missiles, and to neutralize any threat to our forces. We couldn’t do anything about their ground forces massed at the DMZ, deep in that mountainous region of the peninsula, and what is more, we wouldn’t even try. But, cut off, those forces would find themselves between the ROK army and a hard place.

Is Li’l Kim that crazy? Possibly.

[Wonder Warthog]

These guys are just now figuring out that Guam is a major strategic target for America’s enemies???? That would be true even if Nork didn’t exist.

[Vinnie]

Why in the world would Lil’ Kim attack only Guam? He surly understands that would bring a retaliation that would destroy NK.
Maybe as part of a larger attack, alone? Nah

[TigerLikesRooster]

Probably because N. Koreans think the island is the farthest target N. Korean missiles can accurately hit with their current technology.

[cgbg]

The governor’s claim there was currently “no threat” is amusing in the nuclear era, since ten minutes later (after he ended his remarks) there could be a threat.

If my governor ever makes a statement like that I will “duck and cover” 1950s style! :-)

[miss marmelstein]

This reminds me of freepers who live in places like Viet Nam, Philippines, Thailand & even Poland and claim that it is heaven on earth compared to the good ole USA. Until China, Russia, North Korea and those pesky muslims start acting up.

[blueplum]

rising tensions between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un

how cute of the author to try to make it a personal thing. It's N. Korea against the world, and picking on the US by name. I guess stealing brains wasn't enough for Lil Scumbag

[WKUHilltopper]

Why not just have everyone on Guam run over to one part of the island so it will tip over and expose only the bottom of Guam to the missiles?

Hank Johnson, GA-Dumbasscrat, said tipping over was a concern with too many military stationed there, so it must be true.

[gandalftb]

Everyone is getting whipped up by the media and Trump’s tweets, calm down. This hysteria is nonsense and downright dangerous.

Too many headline readers are completely ignorant of the NK capabilities. NK must be having a big laugh at all our headlines.

The most powerful NK missile, only in theory, could reach about Kansas City, with no payload bigger than a jar of kimchee.

They would have to have another missile stage added on to provide more fuel in boost.

Their best missiles so far are all “truck” launched. They don’t have a truck big enough for a bigger missile. If they did, a bigger heavier missile would get damaged joyriding around NK.

They would have to go to a silo launch with onsite liquid fueling. That’s what every other nuclear power does that wants nukes delivered.

NK has no silos, if they did we would know. Also, all of their orbital apogee missiles have burned up on re-entry, they don’t have adequate heat shields, yet.

Let’s all calm down.