Seoul: South Korea's foreign ministry has expressed its opposition to what it calls North Korea's "politicization" of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) following North Korea's request for an investigation into alleged drone infiltrations by South Korea into Pyongyang's airspace last year.
According to Yonhap News Agency, North Korea recently submitted a request to the ICAO for a probe into the alleged drone incident that occurred in October. In mid-October, North Korea claimed to have detected unmanned aerial vehicles sent from South Korea to Pyongyang and issued warnings of potential retaliation if such actions were repeated. South Korea has neither confirmed nor denied these claims.
A foreign ministry official, speaking anonymously, stated, "(We) oppose North Korea politicizing the ICAO without presenting clear evidence." The official further urged North Korea to cease GPS signal disruptions, which are deemed a significant threat to the safety of both South Korean and international civil aircraft.
South Korea has leveled accusations against North Korea for conducting GPS jamming attacks in areas around the Northern Limit Line in the Yellow Sea, which serves as the de facto maritime boundary between the two Koreas. Both nations are members of the ICAO, established under the Convention on International Civil Aviation, which sets out rules for airspace management and aircraft safety.
Article 8 of the Convention stipulates that no pilotless aircraft can fly over the territory of a contracting country without special authorization. The recent allegations represent the latest in a series of disputes between the two Koreas regarding drone infiltrations. In December 2022, South Korea condemned the North for dispatching five drones into its airspace. Although the South Korean government considered raising the issue with the ICAO at the time, it ultimately chose not to after evaluating international law and diplomatic considerations.