North Korea "missile" J-Alert issued ... Was the response appropriate?

Highlights: On the morning of the 13th, the government announced that one of the missiles launched was expected to fall around Hokkaido through the J-ALERT = National Instantaneous Warning System and M-Net = Emergency Information Network System. The government then announced again that "the possibility of falling has disappeared" This is the seventh time that the government has disseminated information on North Korea's ballistic missile launch via J-Alert. But this is the first time that predictions of falling into Japan territory and territorial waters have been disseminated.

【NHK】Information announced during commuting hours that "a possible ballistic missile was launched from North Korea". On the morning of the 13th, the government announced that J-Allah...

Information announced during commuting hours that "a possible ballistic missile was launched from North Korea."

On the morning of the 13th, the government announced that one of the missiles launched was expected to fall around Hokkaido through the J-ALERT = National Instantaneous Warning System and M-Net = Emergency Information Network System, and then announced again that "the possibility of falling has disappeared."

Was the response to the dissemination of information appropriate?

The announcement that it "fell around Hokkaido" was also "corrected" after that.

It started on the morning of the 13th.

At 7:26 a.m., the Ministry of Defense announced that a possible ballistic missile had been launched from North Korea.

▽ At 7:55 a.m., information was disseminated to the Hokkaido area through J-ALERT = Nationwide Instantaneous Warning System.

At 7:56 a.m., the government sent out information through the M-Net = Emergency Information Network System and said, "The missile launched earlier is expected to fall around Hokkaido around 8 a.m.

At 8:16 a.m., the government released new information on M-Net, saying, "J-Alert at 7:55 a.m. today and M-Net at 7:56 a.m. announced that one of the missiles launched from North Korea is expected to fall around Hokkaido. It has been confirmed that the possibility of falling into the vicinity has disappeared, so we will correct it."

At 1:8 a.m., the Ministry of Defense also announced, "It has been confirmed that the possibility of falling on Japanese territory has disappeared for missiles that were detected as having the potential to fall on Japanese territory and could fall on Hokkaido.

First prediction of falling into Japan territory and territorial waters

This is the seventh time that the government has disseminated information on North Korea's ballistic missile launch via J-Alert and M-net, but this is the first time that predictions of falling into Japan territory and territorial waters have been disseminated.

In all of the past six cases, information on the launch time, transit point, and place of fall was provided as the missile passed over the Japan, but did not include information that it could fall into Japan territory or territorial waters.

Impact on civic life

The J-Alert information calling for evacuation was sent out around Hokkaido, which had an impact on citizens' lives.

Sapporo City People evacuating to underground shopping malls

In an underground shopping mall in Chuo Ward, Sapporo City, commuters and others temporarily evacuated, and some people wore helmets to evacuate.

JR Hokkaido, Sapporo Municipal Subway, and streetcars in Sapporo City stopped operating on all lines before 8 a.m. After that, it was announced again that the possibility of the missile falling was gone, and all resumed operation, but as of 11 a.m., a total of 28 JR trains were suspended or partially suspended due to the suspension of operation, and there was a delay of up to 40 minutes on conventional lines.

In addition, all expressways in the province were closed for about one hour from 8 a.m.

There is also a response to postpone the start time of classes.

According to the Hokkaido Board of Education, as of 3 p.m., a total of 101 public elementary, junior high, and high schools, as well as special needs schools, in Hokkaido, have taken measures to postpone the start time of classes.

J-ALERT Why is it issued?

J Alert this time. Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno explained the circumstances of the issuance at a press conference.

What is the background to the issuance of J-Alert?

Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno said at the morning press conference, "Immediately after the detection, anything that could fall around Hokkaido was missing from the radar, but we issued a J-Alert from the viewpoint of giving top priority to the safety of the public amid the limited detection information.

He also stated, "J-ALERT = It does not mean that the information of the nationwide instantaneous warning system has been corrected, but as a result of analyzing the situation, we have provided information again because there is no possibility of a bomb landing on Japanese territory."

He then stated, "As a result, it was confirmed that there was no possibility of the J-Alert falling into Japan's territory, but in light of the role of J-Alert, I believe that the decision to issue the issue itself was appropriate."

On the other hand, regarding the launch of ballistic missiles, the government disseminated information on the J-ALERT = nationwide instantaneous warning system for the area around Hokkaido at 30:7 a.m., more than 55 minutes after the launch.

At the afternoon press conference, he emphasized how it took more than 30 minutes for the J-Alert to be issued, saying, "As the situation changes from moment to moment, we have provided information to the public as soon as possible." He reiterated that although the missile disappeared from the radar after detection, the information obtained at that time showed the system a wake to fall around Hokkaido, so the decision to issue a J-Alert was made with the safety of the public as the top priority.

Furthermore, regarding radar detection capabilities, he stated, "As military activities around Japan intensify, it is essential to build an information-gathering system that does not have a gap, and we will fundamentally strengthen our capabilities to detect, track, and intercept ballistic missiles and other missiles."

Former admiral Yoji Koda What are the challenges for the future? 【Q＆A】

We spoke with Yoji Koda, a former naval officer who served as commander of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, about the series of responses related to J-Alert and other issues.

Former admiral Yoji Koda

Q．「 What does it mean to say that anything that could fall around Hokkaido had disappeared from radar?

A.Radar is a weapon that uses radio waves, so it always picks up "noise" from mobile phones and TV broadcasts. Therefore, even if you are tracking, it cannot be denied that it turns out to be "noise" on the way. Of course, we should improve this accuracy, but there is always a risk of such incorrect detection, so I think it is necessary for the government to think about how to respond to such a situation.

Q.It has been pointed out that there was confusion regarding J-Alert this time, but what kind of issues will there be in the future?

A.Crisis management is to firmly protect the lives and assets of the people. It is not good to think that it is unavoidable to swing empty, but if you judge that it is dangerous to some extent, it is important to issue it without delay. At the same time, in order not to become a "wolf boy," the Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces are required to improve tracking accuracy as much as possible and not to make or minimize idle swings. I believe that the government should firmly explain the significance of J-Alert to the public and seek their understanding.

Prime Minister Kishida also emphasizes "appropriate judgment"

Prime Minister Kishida

Prime Minister Kishida, who was attending the groundbreaking ceremony for the Expo venue held in Osaka City, emphasized, "The announcement was issued from the viewpoint of giving top priority to the safety of the people, and after that it was confirmed that there was no possibility of missiles falling into Japanese territory, we provided information again.

"Verification" from the ruling and opposition parties

Regarding this response, the ruling and opposition parties have said that a thorough investigation is necessary.

Liberal Democrat Onodera, former Minister of Defense

Former Defense Minister Onodera, who chairs the LDP's Security Research Committee, said at a party meeting, "We need to accurately grasp the situation of this missile, and if it has not disappeared from radar, I would like to see a thorough examination of whether there was a trajectory that really fell on our territory."

Rikmin Azumi Koku v. Chairman

Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan's Diet Committee Chairman Azumi commented on the government's response to issuing the J-Alert at a party meeting, saying, "It may be important to be reminded, but when there is no certainty, it is normal for people to become wolf boys and lose credibility. As an opposition party, we will thoroughly verify the operation and accuracy of J-Alert."

"Challenges of communication"

J-ALERT and M-Net have faced issues over how to disseminate information.

In the previous report on November 11 last year, we announced that a missile launched by North Korea appeared to have passed over the Tohoku region and other areas, but we have since corrected it to say that it did not actually cross the Japan archipelago.

In addition, issues were highlighted, such as the evacuation call coming later than expected to pass overhead.

◆What is J-Alert?

J-ALERT = The Nationwide Instantaneous Warning System is a system that instantly sends information on disaster prevention and civil protection to local governments via satellite, and is used when ballistic missiles may fall into Japan territory or territorial waters, or if there is a possibility of passing through territory or territorial waters.

Using the J-Alert system of the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, information is mainly notified to mobile phone companies and municipal receivers. In response to the notification, mobile phone companies send area mail and emergency early warning e-mails to mobile phones and smartphones in the target area, and in municipalities, disaster prevention administrative radios are automatically activated, and messages calling for evacuation are broadcast from outdoor speakers with a special siren sound.

Ballistic missiles can reach within 10 minutes of launch, so if the message is heard, the government urges people to take refuge in nearby buildings or underground, hide in the shadows, lie face down on the ground to protect their heads, and move away from windows or to rooms without windows.

◆What is M-Net?

M-Net = Emergency Information Network System is established for the national government to contact local governments, media outlets, etc. by e-mail in the event of an emergency based on the Civil Protection Law. Emergency information is sent from the Crisis Management Center in the Prime Minister's Office, and an audible alarm is heard at the receiving destination to notify that the information has been transmitted. M-Net is currently in place in all prefectures and municipalities.