Japan to Halt N. Korea Missile Evacuation Drills

June 22, 2018

Tokyo- The Japanese government is considering canceling evacuation drills planned for fiscal 2018 to prepare for possible ballistic missile launches by North Korea, officials said Thursday.

After the recent summit between the United States and North Korea, the government concluded that North Korea is unlikely to launch a missile at least for now.

The government has notified the city of Yaita, Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo, of its intention to halt such drills. Yaita planned to carry out its drill on Tuesday.

Evacuation drills are also planned in eight other prefectures. These are expected to be canceled after discussions with local governments, according to the officials.

"Unlike last year, we are no longer in a situation in which we are threatened by imminent missile launches," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a press conference.

In missile evacuation drills, the central and local governments practice information communication via local wireless systems and the J-Alert nationwide early warning system and evacuation of residents. Jiji Press