Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 10 augusT 2017

Guam’s worries grow as tensions rise between US, North Korea

strike the U.S. with a nuclear a pre-emptive attack on
missile. The advances were U.S. citizens, some residents
detailed in an official Japa- of Guam are concerned.
nese assessment and later “If anything happens, we
a Washington Post story all got to be ready, be pre-
that cited U.S. intelligence pared, and pray to God
officials and a confiden- that it doesn’t happen,”
tial Defense Intelligence Daisy Mendiola, 56, said af-
Agency report. In response, ter finishing lunch with her
Trump on Tuesday threat- family at a restaurant near
ened the communist coun- Hagatna.
try “with fire and fury.” On “Everyone’s afraid, be-
Wednesday, the North Ko- cause we’re dealing with
rean army said in a state- powers that’s beyond us.”
ment that it was studying a Other residents are wor-
plan to create an “envel- ried about the political
oping fire” in areas around atmosphere and the gov-
Guam with medium- to ernment’s ability to find a
long-range ballistic missiles. peaceful solution. Todd
On his flight back to Wash- Thompson, a lawyer who
ington, Tillerson said he lives on Guam, said he
never considered re-rout- laughed off past threats
ing the trip to avoid refuel- because he “figured cool-
In this May 15, 2017 photo, tourists walk through a shopping district in Tamuning, Guam. Security ing in Guam. er heads in Washington
and defense officials on Guam said on Aug. 9, 2017, that there is no imminent threat to people “I do not believe that there would prevail, and it was
there or in the Northern Mariana Islands after North Korea said it was examining its operational is any imminent threat,” Til- just an idle threat.”
plans for attack. lerson told reporters aboard “But I have to say, I’m not
(AP Photo/Haven Daley) the plane. “What we’re laughing now,” Thomp-
By GRACE BORDALLO headed to Guam to refuel now.” About 163,000 peo- hopeful is that this pres- son said. “My concern is
CATHY BUSSEWITZ on his trip back to Washing- ple live on the island that sure campaign (including that things have changed
The Associated Press ton from Malaysia, people spans only about 12 miles sanctions), which the entire in Washington, and who
HAGATNA, Guam (AP) — who live and work on the (19 kilometers) at its widest. world now has joined us in, knows what’s going to
Residents of the tiny Pacific island said they could no They are used to the threats and with the engagement happen?” His brother
island of Guam say they’re longer shrug off the idea from North Korea. But ad- of China and Russia, two of Mitch Thompson, who also
afraid of being caught of being a potential target. vances in the country’s nu- North Korea’s closest neigh- lives on Guam, added he
in the middle of escalat- Guam serves as a launch- clear program paired with bors — that they can begin believes “a lot of people
ing tensions between the ing pad for the U.S. military. fiery rhetoric from President to persuade the regime have no confidence that
U.S. and North Korea after “I’m a little worried, a little Donald Trump has raised that they needed to recon- the White House will do the
Pyongyang announced it panicked. Is this really go- the already high animos- sider the current pathway right thing under the cir-
was examining plans for ing to happen?” said Cecil ity and heightened worries they’re on and think about cumstances.”
attacking the strategically Chugrad, a 37-year-old bus that a miscalculation might engaging in a dialogue However, the brothers say
important U.S. territory. driver for a tour bus compa- spark conflict between the about a different future.” they haven’t seen anyone
Though local officials ny in Guam. “If it’s just me, nuclear-armed nations. While it is extremely unlikely panicking or stocking up
downplayed any threat I don’t mind, but I have to Reports suggested North that Pyongyang would risk on supplies. “I think people
and Secretary of State Rex worry about my son. I feel Korea mastered a techno- the assured annihilation of are just stunned and really
Tillerson was unruffled as he like moving (out of Guam) logical hurdle needed to its revered leadership with don’t know what to think,”
Todd Thompson said.
Guam is about 2,100 miles
Brazil: (3,380 kilometers) south-
east of Pyongyang and
Development bank head counters Temer on economy 3,800 miles (6,115 kilome-
ters) west of Honolulu in the
Pacific Ocean. For years,
Associated Press recovery. its recent, bruising reces- fore the president arrived North Korea has claimed
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The Paulo Rabello de Castro sion. He also said corrup- at the summit. Guam is within its missiles’
head of Brazil’s National said during a foreign trade tion scandals have hurt the Temer was charged with striking distance, making
Development Bank is pub- summit in Rio de Janeiro country’s industries. bribery in June. Last week, furious statements each
licly disputing President Wednesday that “things Rabello de Castro’s rebuke the lower chamber of Con- time when the U.S. flew
Michel Temer’s claim that are not ok” with the econ- was extraordinary because gress voted not to send powerful bombers from the
Latin America’s largest omy and Brazil still needs he was appointed by Te- Temer to trial but he could island’s air base to the Ko-
economy is on the road to to address the fallout from mer and it came just be- face more charges.q rean Peninsula.q