PYONGYANG, North Korea: North Korea try did not launch a satellite tv for pc on May 31, which prompted raid sirens and a cell phone alert calling for evacuations in South Korea’s capital, Seoul.
Despite ending as a failure, North Korea’s sixth satellite tv for pc launch nonetheless precipitated chaos in elements of South Korea and Japan.
“I was so panicked. 911 lines were busy and the internet was slow. So without knowing what was really happening, I was about to head down to a basement wearing a wrap carrier with my baby,” mentioned Seoul resident Lee Juyeon, 33, as quoted by Reuters.
As Seoul, a metropolis of some 10 million individuals, issued a “Presidential Alert” telling residents to arrange for a possible evacuation, sirens started sounding in Seoul at 6:32 a.m.
However, ten minutes later the Interior Ministry despatched out one other cell message to say town’s alert had been issued in error.
Despite the Korean War ending in an armistice seven many years in the past, the 2 international locations are nonetheless at battle and residents of Seoul have grown accustomed to dwelling usually, regardless of threats coming from their neighbor.
Later on May 31, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon apologized for confusion over town’s alert, however defended the choice to ship the alarm as a precaution for public security. He mentioned town would enhance the wording of future warnings.