Hawaii begins testing Cold War-era siren warning system amid North Korea threat

Hawaii has become the first state to reinstate its Cold War-era siren warning system amid a rising nuclear threat posed by North Korea.

Emergency management officials tested the nuclear attack siren Friday alongside a regular test for an alert for tsunamis, according to ABC News.

Reuters reported that Hawaii will begin monthly testing of the nuclear attack sirens for the first time since the Cold War.

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Hawaii Gov. David Ige (D) said this week it’s important for the state to be “prepared for every possibility.”

“A possibility of attack today is very remote, but we do believe that it’s important that we be proactive, that we plan and are prepared for every possibility moving forward,” he said, according to Reuters.

Ige told reporters he believes Hawaii is the first state to reinstate testing of the warning system. 

The siren testing comes just days after North Korea tested a new type of ballistic missile that could put the entire United States mainland within range.

Defense Secretary James Mattis said the new intercontinental ballistic missile went “higher, frankly, than any previous shots” North Korea has taken.

After the launch, President Trump told reporters “it’s a situation we will handle.”

“We will take care of it,” Trump said. “It is a situation that we will handle.”