MANILA, Philippines - No nuclear threat has thus far been verified in North Korea's rocket launch in April, but the Philippine government is still preparing contingency measures, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said Thursday.
"Ang alam natin ay ito ay wala namang nuclear element na kasama dun sa launching nila, but ang kalaban natin dito yung debris. Pagka ito ay nag-explode sa taas, yung mga bakal-bakal na yan na babagsak, tinitingnan natin kung saan dadaan at kung sino ang tatamaan [As far as we know there is no nuclear element in their launch, but we’re watching the debris. An explosion in space spawns various metal fragments that will fall on earth, and we’ve to closely track where these will fall or what these will hit]," Gazmin told reporters.
Gazmin said the Philippine government is still gathering data to determine the exact path of the rocket to warn affected residents of the debris.
Initial information said the rocket launch will be held between April 12 and 16, sometime between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. and 180 kilometers northeast of Luzon.
Gazmin said he is constantly coordinating with the United States and the South Koreans to prepare for the incident.
"Titignan muna natin yung areas na madadaanan para mabigyan natin ng proper warning kung ano at pano magcocover [Let’s check the path first, and then give those possibly affected the right advice on how to shield themselves]," Gazmin said.
"Kung hindi successful baka sumobra, baka pumasok sa ating territory so yun ang pinangangambahan natin [If it’s not successful, they might exceed estimates and debris will enter our territory, and that’s what worries us," he added.
source: interaksyon.com
