Government Considers Requesting Investigation from International Civil Aviation Organization on North Korean Drone Intrusion

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] The government is reportedly considering requesting the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to investigate whether North Korea's drone intrusion at the end of last year violated the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention).

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official told reporters on the 26th, "We condemn North Korea's drone's illegal intrusion into our airspace as a clear act of provocation and are examining various responses to it."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Chicago Convention contains general regulations related to the safe operation of aircraft. Both South and North Korea are ICAO member states established under this convention.

Article 8 of the Chicago Convention states that "an aircraft capable of being flown without a pilot shall not fly over the territory of a contracting state without special authorization from that state, nor shall it fly in violation of the conditions of such authorization." Since North Korea's drone intrusion involved flying over our airspace without government authorization, it may constitute a violation of this provision.

In October last year, ICAO passed a resolution pointing out that North Korea's unnotified missile launches violated relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the Convention on International Civil Aviation, urging North Korea to comply with the convention.

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