Freaked out and scared.

That's how 10-year-old Keian Benavente feels about the North Korea crisis.

"On the news, I heard that (the missile) will take 14 minutes to get to Guam when (North Koreans) send it," he said.

"I'm just scared."

While most island residents interviewed on Friday dismissed the North Korean crisis as bluster between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump, a feeling of unease belied the sense of normalcy on Guam.

“I’m rather worried," said Tony Champaco, 19, a University of Guam student.

"I hope things (are ) settled ... the best way possible. I hope both sides come to an agreement that… World War III doesn’t happen."

Wednesday, Guam residents were rocked by reports of North Korea vowing a missile attack against Guam.

The threat followed Trump's harsh comments in response to reports of a new milestone in North Korea's nuclear quest.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un “has been very threatening beyond a normal state, and as I said they will be met with fire and fury and frankly power, the likes of which this world has never seen before," Trump said.

On Thursday, amid reports that North Korea planned to have an attack plan in place by mid-August, Guam Homeland Security spokeswoman Jenna Gaminde said if North Korea fires missiles toward Guam, they would take about 14 minutes to reach the island.

Not worried

Astumbo Middle School student Shamaya Margeson, 13, said the North Korea missile threats have been the talk amongst her friends. Many are scared, she said, but others, including herself, brushed off the threats as empty.

“I didn’t think (the North Koreans are) actually going to do it,” she said of the missile launch threats.

Cyndal Abad also dismissed the threats.

“I feel like North Korea has been threatening us for quite a while. Only now we are taking it seriously because the president has addressed it.“

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“I feel like (North Koreans) are doing something in defense for what President Trump first said. But I do believe that violence is never the answer.”

“In this case, we don’t want to fight fire with fire.”

Sirena Garay wasn't concerned by the war of words.

"It’s an empty threat. I’m sorry but I love my island. I’m not going anywhere. It’s not going to scare me."

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Guam is a valuable island and is well protected by the military, she said. “This location is a military base. Do you understand it’s protected and has been for over years because, not just him but everybody wants this territory. This is a gold mine.”

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Paulina Camacho, 21, from Harmon was enjoying a day at the beach with some of her friends, including Melva Katsuta, 15, from Tamuning and both said they weren’t worried.

“We’re not worried because we know the military will do their job to protect our island,” Camacho said.

For Katsuta, when she first heard the news she was concerned, but now she feels okay.

“I don’t really care about it,” Katsuta said.

James Cruz, 47, from Mangilao, was at Ypao Beach and wasn’t too worried about North Korea’s threat.

“Nothing is stopping us from barbecuing,” he said.

Upset about Trump

Although she took heed of local officials' call for calm, Maria Teehan, 64, said she was upset about Trump's blunt comments.

"I'm not worried about that because the governor, homeland security — Guam homeland security — and I believe the congressional office, Madeleine Bordallo, told us not to worry about it," she said.

"Even though I was a little upset about our president because, when he fought back with the same kind of language used by North Korea, I didn’t feel safe, I didn’t feel safe. Even though everybody else, even though all the leadership on Guam said oh, it's OK, not to worry about it."

She wished the military joined with local leaders in reassuring the safety and security of Guam. Teehan, who recently returned to her home island after 20 years, says Guam shouldn't been seen only as a strategic asset to the military, but as home to some 170,000 people.

National and international media portrayed Guam as a strategic location for the military, and “there was no mention of humanity, no mention of people living here.”

"That bothers me that all they care about is that, and not the safety of our people."

'Prayer is what we need'

Vicky Laganse, 69, from Merizo said she feels uneasy.

“I still want to live. My time is not up yet, but if it is, then there’s nothing else we can do, but pray,” Laganse said.

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She noted Merizo is the village where Our Lady of Camarin, or Santa Maria Kamalen, appeared to Chamorros. According to local legend, the statue of the saint revealed itself to a fisherman in Merizo. It has since become the patron saint of the island.

“Prayer is what we need now. Hopefully our Lady of Kamalen will hear us and continue to protect us,” she said.

Agnes Benavente — Keian Benavente's grandmother — also relied on her faith.

Benavente said she wasn't worried, but expressed concern for the children in her family.

“I just worry about my kids,” the Agafa Gumas, Yigo, resident said. “I don’t want them to feel the fear and I don’t want to feel the fear. I just want to live every day I have to my fullest to make them happy, not to live in fear. Whatever happens, God’s gonna be there."

Pacific Daily News reporters Haidee Eugenio, Jerick Sablan, and photographers Rick Cruz and Frank San Nicolas contributed to this report.