The message received by mobile phone users at 6.55pm local time said: "NHK news alert. North Korea appears to have launched a missile. The government urges people to take shelter inside buildings or underground."
The error was corrected within minutes and the NHK spokesman said they're investigating what caused the mistake.
READ MORE: 'What Does This Button Do?': Twitter Trolls Hawaii Over Nuke Alarm Panic (VIDEO)
Tensions remain high on the Korean peninsula after North staged a serious of nuclear and missile tests in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
This comes just days after a similar incident in Hawaii when an employee mistakenly sent a ballistic missile alert that caused panic across the US state.
受信料を徴収しておいて「 北朝鮮ミサイル発射の模様」の誤報ですか。国民は許さないでしょ。ポンコツ機関はさっさと解体してしまえ！ pic.twitter.com/KvtGEnr59G
— yoshi53 (@53yoshi) January 16, 2018
Residents received a warning to seek immediate shelter sending panic across Hawaii.
To make matters worse officials took 38 minutes to correct the false alarm.
