Filipinos in Japan not threatened by missile tests, says envoy

TOKYO—North Korea’s ballistic missile tests are not an immediate cause of concern for Filipinos in Japan, according to the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo.

In an interview with reporters on Friday, Deputy Chief of Mission Eduardo Meñez said the Filipinos in Japan were aware of the increasing threat from North Korea, but “the level of worry is not very high … The Filipinos are as safe as the Japanese.”

Meñez noted that North Korea has been conducting missile tests since 2012, so Japan is prepared.

Greater threat to S. Korea

The frequency of the launches has increased, especially in 2016, but the threat is not as greatly felt in Japan as in South Korea.

“At this point, I do not believe there is a sense of fear from the Filipino community. They basically mirror what the Japanese public does. Actually far from feeling threatened, more and more Filipinos are coming to Japan,” he said.

US allies Japan and South Korea rely on the US for military support and protection against possible attacks from North Korea. The constitution of Japan, Menez noted, specifies their armed forces are purely for self-defense.

Meñez said the Japanese government was prepared and had a “well-established” system of response to threats.

The public is also well-informed, he said.

“The Japanese, I believe, have prepositioned a modified Patriot missile capability. So if there is a missile that is launched, whether deliberate or test attack, the military will also have the capability to shoot [it down],” he said.