The Korea Herald

소아쌤

‘N.K. has yet to notify IMO of no-sail zone’

By 송상호

Published : Nov. 17, 2015 - 17:31

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North Korea has not notified the International Maritime Organization of its alleged declaration of a no-sail zone, the IMO said Tuesday, two days after a Seoul official said Pyongyang set the zone in the East Sea, effective from Nov. 11 to Dec. 7. 

Washington-funded broadcaster Voice of America reported the IMO spokesperson said the U.N. organization was not informed of Pyongyang’s no-sail zone.

On various occasions, the communist state has notified the IMO of its no-sail zones. But there was no notification in March when the North fired two ballistic missiles into the East Sea.

Some argued that even though the North declared a no-sail zone, it might not conduct any rocket launch that would put it deeper into diplomatic isolation. In August, the North set a no-sail zone and put its ship-to-ship missiles and coastal artillery in a combat-ready position, but it did not fire them.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)