The North Korean government has agreed to allow personnel from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to conduct inspections on its missile facilities to ensure the safety of international flights from the country’s missile launches. This latest report was delivered by ICAO officials from the United Nations Montreal headquarters.
An official with North Korea’s General Administration of Civil Aviation (GACA) gave the assurance to the ICAO when it sent high-ranking representatives to visit the country in May. North Korea is actually a member of ICAO (surprise) and therefore beholden to the organization’s safety standards. The 192-member ICAO is now planning to send inspectors next year in order to verify what measures North Korea has taken to keep unannounced missile launches in check, pursuant to its pledge.
The ICAO said North Korea had promised to suspend activities that represented a danger to civil aviation. Apparently, convincing leaders in Pyongyang to curtail such activities was the main purpose of the group sending a delegation visit to the region in the spring.
Indeed, North Korea has a history when it comes to reckless aerial activities, namely the test-firings of long-range missiles without prior notice. The country conducted numerous unannounced missile tests last year, posing an enormous threat to airplanes flying in the region. This danger was highlighted in July last year, when an Air France airliner flying from Tokyo to Paris flew directly past an area where a ballistic missile had splashed into the Sea of Japan off Hokkaido just several minutes later.
In addition to on-site assessments of launch pads, the upcoming inspection is expected to include visits to the country’s aviation authorities and interviews with aviation officials.
So what, if anything, does this mean for the current reconciliation process North Korea is undergoing with its southern neighbor and the US?
Well, let’s put it into perspective.
Inspections by the ICAO are meant to be a somewhat regular occurrence. After all, they aim to ensure that member states comply with its regulations concerning the safety of international aviation. The last review of North Korea was conducted over ten years ago in 2008 and was not related to missile launches. The fact that North Korea opened up to any inspections on its missile facilities is in and of itself important. It’s a solid indication the country’s leaders are trying to be a bit more transparent when it comes to regional security issues.
Furthermore, ICAO has not been a friend of North Korea in the recent past. Last October, the ICAO strongly condemned North Korea’s persistent launches of ballistic missiles near or over international air routes without prior notice. The ICAO’s director had reportedly even sent several letters to North Korean officials urging them to comply with the agency’s rules, emphasizing that the country’s practices seriously threatened the safety of international flights. Now, Pyongyang seems to be willing to play ball with an organization that last year they were at best disregarding.
One interesting thing to note here is that North Korea’s agreement to allow UN inspectors into its missile sites dates back to last May. Is it a coincidence that this was exactly when the rhetoric battle between President Trump and North Korean officials began to heat up? It is quite possible that opening its doors to the UN aviation agency was one of the first signs DPRK was sending of its willingness to cooperate with the international community.
