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MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATED) The Philippines is “duty bound” to come to the aid of the United States should North Korea launch an attack on American shores.
On Saturday, April 6, ANC quoted Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario as saying that by virtue of being a treaty ally of the United States, the Philippines is bound to come to America’s aid in the event of conflict.
The Philippines and the United States have a Visiting Forces Agreement that allows Filipino and American soldiers to train and learn together in the country.
The North Korean army said on Thursday, April 4, that it had final approval to launch “merciless” military strikes on the United States, involving the possible use of “cutting-edge” nuclear weapons.
However, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said that the situation remains normal as of Saturday. She said that there was also no reason to raise alert levels since the situation in North Korea has not changed.
“Our post in South Korea has reported today that the situation remains normal; wala naman daw din pong pagbabago (Nothing has changed). And we have also spoken to the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs), and because the situation remains normal, we see no reason why the alert level should be raised today,” Valte said.
“Please make sure that the clarification is there that we do a day-to-day checking with the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) and with our post, and that information is for the time that we have given it to you. So, so far, the situation remains normal,” she added.
Contingency measures
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin meanwhile said government’s Rapid Response Team has been reactivated in South Korea, given conditions there. In case the situation deteriorates, contingency measures will be carried out, Gazmin said. These include temporary sheltering arrangements with other countries in the event of an emergency situation.
There are an estimated 15,000 Filipinos near the demilitarized zone in Seoul who will be vulnerable targets in the event war breaks out.
Valte said the DFA is verifying if Filipinos working in United Nations-attached agencies have been transferred to another post.
On Friday, April 5, North Korea warned foreign embassies in Pyongyang that starting April 10, their security cannot be guaranteed.
This prompted embassies and other international organizations in North Korea to meet and discuss precautionary measures, including possible evacuation. But most governments in the European Union made it clear they had no plans to withdraw any personnel. – with reports from Cai Ordinario and Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com
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