Contingency plans for Pinoys in Japan ready if N. Korea attacks —DFA

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Thursday it has prepared contingency plans for the repatriation of Filipinos in case North Korea attacks Japan, JP Soriano reported on 24 Oras on Thursday.

Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Rob Bolivar said the Philippine Embassy in Japan has plans in place for more than 242,000 Filipinos living or working in the country in case of a possible attack.

"Ang embahada natin ni-rereview na ito given the current developments at hinahanda na nila yung next steps kung kinakailangan," Bolivar said.

Part of these plans include a recently-held civil protection forum to consult with Filipinos, who were advised to follow credible news agencies and Japan's national warning systems.

Filipinos hope the attacks will not reach Japan, citing possible joblessness in case they are forced to return home.

"Kung pupwede, mapag-usapan nila kung ano naman dapat gawin at kung uuwi naman kami ng Pilipinas, wala naman kaming hanap-buhay dun, nandito po talaga hanap-buhay namin," one Filipina said.

The Philippines supports the UN Security Council resolution imposing trade sanctions against North Korea as it continues to test hydrogen bombs it claimed could be fit onto a missile.

North Korea called for the US to be "beaten to death as a stick is fit for a rabid dog" and for Japan's main four islands to be "sunken into the sea by the nuclear bomb of Juche" or its national philosophy of self-reliance for the sanction. —Rie Takumi/JST, GMA News