International agencies concerned with air and marine safety
have criticized the North Korean authorities for carrying out March 26th
mid-range missile launches without advance warning.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul on the
13th, both the International Civil Aviation Organization and International
Maritime Organization, UN bodies, have conveyed their concerns over the North
Korean launches to Pyongyang.
Member states are supposed to report all launches of
missiles or rockets in advance, to ensure that the launches do not endanger
civilian aircraft or shipping. However, in reality the organizations do not
have any tools with which to punish transgressors.
North Korea joined the ICAO in 1977 and IMO in 1985. However, it has a patchy record of reporting its launch plans. Most notably, in 2009 and 2013 when the country attempted satellite launches, these were reported to the two bodies in advance in accordance with international convention.
