![The US Guam base is among two Pacific islands closer to North Korea. [Image via Olafpictures/Pixabay]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2017/8/9/660x290/b_502x220x82/the-us-guam-base-is-among-two-pacific-islands-closer-to-north-korea-image-via-olafpicturespixabay_1498305.jpg "The US Guam base is among two Pacific islands closer to North Korea. [Image via Olafpictures/Pixabay]")
On Wednesday, North Korean news agency KCNA said the country is examining the possibility of striking the US territory of Guam with a ballistic nuclear missile. The statement specifically threatened a potential attack on Anderson Air Base aimed at sending a strong and direct warning to the US and its allies. The US Guam base is among two Pacific islands closer to North Korea which represents America’s westernmost military might.
North Korea’s latest threat
The comments by Pyongyang were made public following the stern warning by President Trump that if it continued with its threat to the US, it would be confronted with fire and fury like never before seen on the world stage.
In response to the threat by Pyongyang, Governor Eddie Baza Calvo of Guam made an address on Wednesday and reassured residents of the island of the US commitment to protect all resident and demised any escalation of the threat.
He stated that the people of Guam should rest assured of their safety and that there is currently no threat of any sort on the island or the Marianas. He also said that there was no elevation or change in the escalation or threat posed by North Korea.
Governor downplayed Pyongyang’s latest threat
The Governor reminded national media that the Territory Of Guam remains American soil with more than 200,000 US citizens residing in Guam and the Marianas. He added that the US territory is not just a military base but strategically important to the United States and the world at large.
However, George Charfauros Guam’s Homeland Security Advisor told reporters that despite North Korea’s threat and Guam’s strategic importance globally, the island has enough defense installations to deter any nuclear threat.
Charfauros said Pyongyang has gradually advanced its nuclear capabilities but the residents of the island stand in the highest confidence in the US ability to not only defend and protect Guam and its neighbors but also the whole of the United States.
He added that there are many installations of ballistic missile defense in Guam and of these defense systems is Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system built to intercept medium and long range intercontinental ballistic missiles. The Guam Homeland Security Advisor said the US often deploys Aegis-equipment warships in Guam and its surrounding.
However, the US military has repeatedly stated its capability to counter what it described as North Korean aggression.
