[News Terms] The 'Worldwide Navigational Warning System' Disputed Between Buk and IMO

The 'World-Wide Navigational Warning Service (WWNWS)' is a system established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) to prevent maritime accidents by dividing the world into 16 zones, assigning responsible countries for each zone, and providing navigational safety information such as coastal area structures and hazards to all vessels via high-frequency radio signals.

According to WWNWS, IMO member states must notify the time and impact point of missile or satellite launches at least five days in advance. Additionally, urgent matters such as maritime firing exercises, ship sinkings, and the discovery of reefs must be reported to the coordinating country of the zone to which the member state belongs. However, direct notification to the IMO is not required.

According to the World-Wide Navigational Warning Service (WWNWS), member countries of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) must notify the relevant regional coordinators of information such as launch time and impact points at least five days before missile or satellite launches. The photo shows the navigation of an ultra-large LPG carrier. Photo by Asia Economy DB

The region including South Korea, North Korea, China, Japan, and six other countries is designated as NAVAREA 11 under the World-Wide Navigational Warning Service. The coordinating country for this zone is Japan. North Korea provides prior information to Japan, and Japan is responsible for informing the countries within the zone of the information provided by North Korea.

In South Korea, the Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency provides information to vessels through navigational warnings. The agency delivers information threatening safe navigation, such as reefs, shipwrecks, and maritime firing exercises, via TV, radio, the Fisheries Radio Station of the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives, and the Korea Coast Guard’s maritime traffic text broadcast (NAVTEX). Recently, information is also provided to navigators within seconds through internet and mobile phone text messaging services (SMS).

A spokesperson for North Korea’s State Maritime Administration issued a statement on the 8th, declaring, "We condemn and reject the IMO’s unfair and illegal anti-Republic resolution and will never recognize it." This was in response to the IMO adopting a resolution despite North Korea having provided information according to WWNWS.

North Korea had launched missiles without any prior notification since last year but provided advance notice for the first time this time. An IMO official stated, "The exact details need further verification, but it appears that this is the first time North Korea notified Japan according to the regulations. However, the rule of providing information five days before the launch was not strictly followed." In diplomatic circles, it is analyzed that the background for the IMO’s adoption of the resolution includes accumulated dissatisfaction among member states toward North Korea, which has ignored the international community for some time.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.