by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - More assurances has been provided to the protection and defense of our island as not only have key defense officials arrived on Guam but so have the first elements of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) System. North Korea has made threats to two places where Korea Freedom Federation President Philip Ahn not only has family and friends but places he both calls home.

And as both he and family members share their concern and worry over recent developments, he's hopeful that dialogue between the enemy countries helps resolve matters. "We better talk before first before you solicit an attack, but they never formally replied response yet but some agency of North Korea says still you're suggestion for dialogue is not enough," he said.

And while dialogue may be a challenge between North Korea and the U.S., here at home two defense officials paid the island a visit offering their assurance of the island's safety. Over the weekend during a brief stay, Governor Eddie Calvo met with undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics Frank Kendall. Buildup Office director Mark Calvo sat in the meeting and recalled, "It was a brief visit to talk about and give assurances of our defense of the island and our security of the island and some other pertinent issues related to DOD on Guam."

And while Calvo could not offer specifics of Kendall's visit, he says Governor Calvo did relay his concern over the forward movement of the buildup with increasing exercises on Guam relative to recent activities from North Korea. And just this afternoon, Governor Calvo was also paid a courtesy visit by the 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command Commanding General Brigadier Daniel Karbler. "And with his visit comes again some assurances of the capabilities of the system and commitment for DOD to secure Guam in this time," he explained.

Based out of Hawaii, Calvo says Karbler's Air Defense Unit includes the one that has been identified to deploy to Guam. As we reported over a week ago, the THAAD is set to be deployed here on island. "General Karbler didn't give us the details because of operational security concerns about timelines for the complete arrival, but he did tell us that the first elements arrived this weekend. The unit is going to be standing up in the next several weeks," he said.

Calvo ultimately says these visits are a good sign of more assurance of going in the right direction.

Ahn meanwhile says as the U.S. defense systems provide some assurance for safety here on Guam and to family members in South Korea, the threats from North Korea are never easy to handle especially as today marks the 101st anniversary of its founder birth. "Actually satisfied we are but still the feeling is not comfortable."