PH embassies ordered to review contingency plans amid N. Korea threat

The Philippines has asked its embassies to update their contingency plans amid the threat of nuclear missile strikes from North Korea.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has given instructions to all embassies abroad, particularly those in or near conflict areas, to make sure their contingency plans are up to date to ensure that these could lead Filipinos out of harm’s way,” the agency said in a statement on Tuesday.

DFA said Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano has given the order “after the Philippine Consulate General in Agana raised Alert Level I in Guam following threats from the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea to launch a nuclear missile strike against the American trust territory.”

“Our people all over the world are counting on us to lead them to safety in case worse comes to worst. It is thus important to make sure that all our contingency plans are regularly reviewed and updated,” Cayetano was quoted saying.

“In addition to the Korean Peninsula, there are tensions in other parts of the world, including in the Middle East, that could affect our nationals,” Cayetano said. “We should make sure that we are always ready to respond quickly and effectively.”

The agency estimates that there are 10 million Filipinos living and working around the world, including 2 million in the Middle East, 65,000 in South Korea and 42,835 in Guam. IDL