Where is Guam and what is its military importance?
It's a small island, but the eyes of the world are now watching

In its most detailed threat yet against the US, North Korea says it is preparing to launch four Hwasong-12 rockets to land off the Pacific Ocean island of Guam, where thousands of US forces are stationed.
"The Hwasong-12 rockets to be launched by the KPA [Korean People’s Army] will cross the sky above Shimani, Hiroshima and Koichi prefectures of Japan," said Pyongyang. "They will fly for 3,356.7km [2,085 miles] for 1,065 seconds and hit the waters 30-40km [18-25 miles] away from Guam."
The US has warned North Korea its actions could mean the "end of its regime", but it has denounced President Donald Trump's threats of "fire and fury" as being "bereft of reason".
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Plans for the strike are expected to be ready by the middle of August and will then await orders from leader Kim Jong-un.
Where is Guam?
Guam lies about 2,200 miles south-east of North Korea and 4,000 miles west of Hawaii. It measures 210sq-miles and has a population of more than 160,000 residents.
Why is Guam significant?
Guam has a strategic location, lying close China, Japan and the Korean Peninsula. It is also home to the US Andersen Air Force and about 6,000 of its residents are military staff and civilian workers and their families. The Andersen Air Force Base is on the north end of Guam, about 15 miles from the capital Agana, and hosts B52 bombers and fighter jets.
It became a US territory in 1898 and has been a vital asset to Washington. The island's location gives Washington the capability to launch strikes in Asia. Guam also serves an important defensive function, Sky News reports.
"In 2013, the US Army's Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system was deployed to the island - giving Washington the power to shoot down North Korean ballistic missiles," it adds.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - March 30, 2025
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - strawberry fields forever, secret files, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 hilariously sparse cartoons about further DOGE cuts
Cartoons Artists take on free audits, report cards, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Following the Tea Horse Road in China
The Week Recommends This network of roads and trails served as vital trading routes
By The Week UK Published
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
By Abby Wilson Published
-
The fight for control of Ukraine's nuclear reactors
The Explainer How serious is Donald Trump about US ownership of Kyiv's nuclear power plants?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The El Salvador mega-prison at the centre of Trump's deportation scheme
The Explainer Invoking a 1798 law, the US president has sent hundreds of alleged gang members to high-security prison called 'black hole of human rights'
By Abby Wilson Published
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Romania's election chaos risks international fallout
IN THE SPOTLIGHT By barring far-right candidate Calin Georgescu from the country's upcoming electoral re-do, Romania places itself in the center of a broader struggle over European ultra-nationalism
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Why is Netanyahu pushing into the West Bank now?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Israeli tanks have entered some Palestinian cities for the first time in decades. What's behind this latest assault on the occupied territory, and where could it lead if left unchecked?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published