(Mainichi Daily News via NewsEdge) The Japanese government will introduce a satellite system to promptly notify residents of an emergency situation such as the launch of missiles or earthquakes.
The move followed complaints by some local governments that it took the national government too long to notify them of North Korea's test firing of missiles last week.
The Fire and Disaster Management Agency is set to earmark approximately 200 million yen ($1.7 million) from the 2007 fiscal budget to introduce the new system called "J-ALERT."
Under the current system, local government officials issue warnings to local residents over their emergency community broadcast system after receiving information on emergencies from the national government by fax. The use of a satellite will allow the agency to promptly relay information to local governments.
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