UK Edition
Japan's national broadcaster wrongly sends out North Korea missile warning - days after Hawaii sent accidental emergency message
Japan's national broadcaster sent out a message warning the country of an imminent North Korean missile attack, which later turned out to be a false alarm.
This happened days after Hawaii was sent into a panic as the government accidentally sent an alert to phones and televisions across the island telling residents and visitors to take cover inside due to a reported incoming attack.
Japan's broadcaster, NHK, issued a correction later that evening saying the announcement was made in error.
An alert sent out by the phone app said: "NHK news alert. North Korea likely to have launched missile. The government J alert: evacuate inside the building or underground. "
However, it then followed up on social media and the app: "At around 6.55pm we reported on the NHK news site and the NHK news disaster prevention app that 'North Korean missile launch pattern' was incorrectly issued. J alert has not appeared. I must sincerely apologise."
It was unclear what caused the false alarm.
In Hawaii, an error caused similar messages to be sent across the country during the weekend.
Officials said the mistake was due to someone "pressing the wrong button".
The "emergency alert" read: "Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill."
According to claims on social media, sirens were also heard across the island.
However, tourists and residents were left panicking for 38 minutes before the mistake was rectified.