North Korean threat makes Japan prepare for the worst

The Japanese government is issuing guidelines in case of a (nuclear) missile test or attack from North Korea (N-K). Tokyo acknowledges there will only be up to 10 minutes between the warning and the impact, leaving very little time to get to safety.

First the J-Alert system will warn the local authorities about an incoming missile attack through satellite, telephone and cyberspace. Then the local authorities will use loudspeakers, emergency broadcast channels on television, FM radio and cell phone alerts to notify to people. In a recent meeting, the crisis officials and representatives were also urged to make additional efforts to warn residents and establish their own plans.

Conflict - North Korea has been increasingly conducting nuclear tests: In 2006, 2009 and 2013, the country announced it has successfully conducted nuclear tests with atomic bombs, increasing international concern.

On January 6, 2016, North Korea reports it has successfully detonated a hydrogen bomb which has a much greater force than the atomic bombs used in previous tests. Analysts and experts doubt that is the case, they expect it to be an enhanced version of an atomic bomb. They do raise concerns about the rate North-Korea is developing. On September 2016, North Korea says it conducted its fifth test.

In total, North Korea claims it has now conducted 5 successful nuclear tests. The question is whether they have succeeded at miniaturizing a nuclear bomb to fit a ballistic missile for intercontinental travel or not.

The international community is on high alert and the display of force from both North Korea and the U.S. have raised the tensions even more.