A false alert of an incoming ballistic missile aimed at Hawaii sparked panic and confusion across the US state yesterday. <br/><br/>Mobile phone users received a message that ballistic missile threat was inbound, advising them to seek immediate shelter. <br/><br/>State Governor David Ige apologised and said it was caused by an employee pressing the wrong button.<br/><br/>The US government has announced that there would be a full investigation into the incident. <br/><br/>The false missile warning followed months of soaring tensions between Washington and Pyongyang over North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program. <br/><br/>An alert system is in place because of the potential proximity of Hawaii to North Korean missiles.