FILIPINOS PONDER SAFETY AS N. KOREA HEIGHTENS THREAT

By Don Tagala, ABS-CBN North America Bureau

 April 4, 2013

 JERSEY CITY, NJ – North Korea is setting its sights on a nuclear attack on the US as it accuses the world’s most powerful country of pushing the region to the brink of war.

US state officials say North Korea could be planning a missile launch soon and is threatening to attack America with what it calls cutting-edge smaller, lighter and diversified nuclear strike means.

North Korea also warned that “the moment of explosion is approaching fast” after the US announced plans to send ballistic missile defenses to its naval and air bases in Guam on Wednesday.

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said that North Korean threats to Guam, Hawaii and the US mainland should be taken seriously.

“Some of the actions they’ve taken in the last few weeks present a real and clear danger and threat to the interests certainly of our allies, starting with South Korea and Japan, and also the threats that the North Koreans have leveled directly at the United States regarding our base in Guam,” said Hagel.

“It’s serious. Are they bluffing? The answer is, nobody really knows anything about this new young leader. My concern is that he’s being manipulated by the hard line elements in North Korea,” said Former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson.

Filipinos in Jersey City have mixed reactions on Korea’s threat of possible nuclear attacks on the US.

“The U.S. should not provoke North Korea. I’m afraid the Philippines may be directly affected,” said Jersey City resident Augusto Samson.

“ Being here in the U.S. makes me feels safer since we are more powerful,” countered Yoly Samson, also a resident of Jersey City.

The Philippines’ top envoy Albert Del Rosario and Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia just concluded meetings with Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense chief Chuck Hagel.

Cuisia cites that because of the critical role the Philippines plays in the Asia-Pacific, they were assured of Washington’s commitment to further strengthen its defense cooperation with Manila.

Del Rosario said that the strategic alliance is crucial and relevant amid the uncertainty and security challenges in the region.

“The point of Secretary Del Rosario is that if you have a stronger Ally in the Philippines then we can do more in terms of insuring Maritime Security particularly in our region, so we are contributing to the peace and stability of the region, said Cuisia.

Contact Don Tagala at don_tagala@abs-cbn.com for more information.