North Korea
Risk Level: Two - Danger exists
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The primary risk is from debris from missile re-entries striking aircraft overflying the oceanic part of the ZKKP/Pyongyang FIR over the Sea of Japan. North Korea regularly conducts unannounced missile tests in this area. Consider rerouting to remain over the Japanese landmass or east of it.
There is also a risk of mistaken identity in or near the ZKKP/Pyongyang FIR boundary, as North Korea are threatening to actively shoot down reconnaissance aircraft in their airspace.
The US prohibits flights across all North Korean airspace, including the oceanic part of the ZKKP/Pyongyang FIR over the Sea of Japan. Several other countries have airspace warnings in place which advise caution due to the risk posed by unannounced rocket launches.
Major events:
July 2023: North Korea is threatening to actively shoot down reconnaissance aircraft in their airspace. This may put civil aviation at higher risk of mistaken identity in or near the ZKKP/Pyongyang FIR boundary.
Feb 2023: Ballistic missile fired over the UHHH/Khabarovsk FIR and then landed inside the RJJJ/Fukuoka FIR near several international airways.
Oct 2022: Ballistic missile fired directly over Japan - the first to incur on Japanese airspace since 2017.
2017: North Korea launched two intercontinental ballistic missiles. Both of these landed in the Sea of Japan, well inside the Fukuoka Flight Information Region (Japanese airspace), and significantly, at least one did not re-enter the atmosphere intact – meaning that a debris field of missile fragments passed through the airspace, not just one complete missile.
2015: North Korea gradually stopped notifying ICAO of missile launches, so that aircraft could avoid the launch and splashdown areas.
Read: North Korea Missile Threat, Oct 2022 (OPSGROUP article)
There is also a risk of mistaken identity in or near the ZKKP/Pyongyang FIR boundary, as North Korea are threatening to actively shoot down reconnaissance aircraft in their airspace.
The US prohibits flights across all North Korean airspace, including the oceanic part of the ZKKP/Pyongyang FIR over the Sea of Japan. Several other countries have airspace warnings in place which advise caution due to the risk posed by unannounced rocket launches.
Major events:
July 2023: North Korea is threatening to actively shoot down reconnaissance aircraft in their airspace. This may put civil aviation at higher risk of mistaken identity in or near the ZKKP/Pyongyang FIR boundary.
Feb 2023: Ballistic missile fired over the UHHH/Khabarovsk FIR and then landed inside the RJJJ/Fukuoka FIR near several international airways.
Oct 2022: Ballistic missile fired directly over Japan - the first to incur on Japanese airspace since 2017.
2017: North Korea launched two intercontinental ballistic missiles. Both of these landed in the Sea of Japan, well inside the Fukuoka Flight Information Region (Japanese airspace), and significantly, at least one did not re-enter the atmosphere intact – meaning that a debris field of missile fragments passed through the airspace, not just one complete missile.
2015: North Korea gradually stopped notifying ICAO of missile launches, so that aircraft could avoid the launch and splashdown areas.
Read: North Korea Missile Threat, Oct 2022 (OPSGROUP article)
Current warnings list :
| Source | Reference | Issued | Valid to | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | AIC 33/23 | 10 Jul 2023 | 05 Oct 2024 | |
| USA | Information Note North Korea | 27 Feb 2023 | Ongoing | |
| Canada | AIC 21/24 | 19 Oct 2022 | Ongoing | |
| USA | SFAR 79 | 07 Sep 2020 | 18 Sep 2028 | |
| France | AIC 15/24 | 09 Apr 2020 | Ongoing | |
| Germany | AIC 06/24 | 19 Dec 2019 | Ongoing | |
| UK | UK AIP ENR 1.1 (1.4.5) | 23 Aug 2017 | Ongoing | |
| OPSGROUP | Note To Members: Japan Missile Risk | 09 Aug 2017 | Ongoing |
Source: Italy
Reference: AIC 33/23
Issued: 10-Jul-23, valid until: 05 Oct 2024
Plain English: Caution to Italian operators in the ZKKP/Pyongyang FIR due to risks from missile launches without prior notice.
National air carriers and captains of acft in charge of air service managed by carriers holders of operating italian issued licence, whether they are contractual carriers and/or de facto carriers, or performing air service with commercial charter agreement or with code sharing and to all flt performed with italian civilian registration are advised to take all potential risk information into account in their risk assessment and routing decisions about FIR Pyongyang (ZKKP). Potential risk from ballistic missile launches without prior notice. SFC - UNL.
Source: USA
Reference: Information Note North Korea
Issued: 27-Feb-23, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: Sheds some light on the risks posed from several recent missile launches, including one that transited the UHHH/Khabarovsk FIR and then landed inside the RJJJ/Fukuoka FIR near several international airways. The major risk to aircraft is from falling debris, especially if a launch fails.
Title: DPRK: Missile Impact Likely Occurred Near International Air Routes; Test Launches Pose Continued Aviation Risk.
Click the link for full text.
Click the link for full text.
Source: Canada
Reference: AIC 21/24
Issued: 19-Oct-22, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: Canadian operators should not enter the ZKKP/Pyongyang FIR due to risk posed by unannounced rocket launches.
Level 2 (Recommendation)
SECURITY – HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN NORTH KOREA. Canadian Air Operators and owners of aircraft registered in Canada are advised not to enter FIR Pyongyang (ZKKP). Potential risk to aviation from ballistic missile launches without prior notice.
SECURITY – HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN NORTH KOREA. Canadian Air Operators and owners of aircraft registered in Canada are advised not to enter FIR Pyongyang (ZKKP). Potential risk to aviation from ballistic missile launches without prior notice.
Source: USA
Reference: SFAR 79
Issued: 07-Sep-20, valid until: 18 Sep 2028
Plain English: Flights are prohibited in all North Korean airspace, including the oceanic part of the ZKKP/Pyongyang FIR over the Sea of Japan, due to the threat posed by unannounced North Korean missile launches and air defense weapons systems.
This action extends the expiration date of SFAR No. 79, § 91.1615 of title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), from September 18, 2023, until September 18, 2028. SFAR No. 79 prohibits certain flight operations in the Pyongyang FIR (ZKKP) by all: U.S. air carriers; U.S. commercial operators; persons exercising the privileges of an airman certificate issued by the FAA, except when such persons are operating U.S.-registered aircraft for a foreign air carrier; and operators of U.S.-registered civil aircraft, except when the operator of such aircraft is a foreign air carrier. The FAA finds this action necessary to address significant safety-of-flight risks to U.S. civil aviation associated with the DPRK's military capabilities and activities. These risks include, but are not limited to, extensive unannounced ballistic missile test launches associated with the DPRK's strategic weapons development activities, DPRK air defense and tactical aircraft capabilities that now cover the entire Pyongyang FIR (ZKKP), the DPRK's potential use of electronic warfare (EW) capabilities during periods of heightened tensions, and potential DPRK weapons of mass destruction (WMD) testing, which would likely increase inadvertent risks to civil aviation, both within and potentially beyond the Pyongyang FIR (ZKKP), if it were to occur. Consistent with other recently published flight prohibition SFARs, this action also republishes the approval process and exemption information for this flight prohibition SFAR.
Source: France
Reference: AIC 15/24
Issued: 09-Apr-20, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: Caution advised to French operators for all North Korea overflights, especially in the maritime part over the Sea of Japan (due to unannounced rocket launches).
From 09/04/2020 and until further notice, pilots in command of aircraft performing air services mentioned in paragraph 1.1 are requested to exercise particular caution during flight operations in the airspace of North Korea (ZKKP FIR (PYONGYANG)), especially its maritime part.
Source: Germany
Reference: AIC 06/24
Issued: 19-Dec-19, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: Caution to German operators in North Korean airspace (ZKKP FIR) due to launching of test missiles without prior notice.
Level 1 (lowest risk). Hazardous situation in North-Korea. Civil German air operators are advised to take potential risk into account in their risk assessment and routing decisions within FIR PYONGYANG (ZKKP). Potential risk from ground to ground ballistic weaponry test firings without prior notice.
Source: UK
Reference: UK AIP ENR 1.1 (1.4.5)
Issued: 23-Aug-17, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: UK operators should avoid the ZKKP/Pyongyang FIR and should exercise caution over the Sea of Japan due potential risk from unannounced rocket launches.
Security - Hazardous Situation in North Korea / Sea of Japan
UK civil air operators are recommended not to enter FIR PYONGYANG (ZKKP) and are advised to take potential risk into account over the Sea of Japan (within the geographical coordinates of 1280000E and 1400000E degrees of longitude). Potential risk from unannounced missile tests.
Contact UK Department for Transport +44 (0)207-082 6639 or +44 (0)207-944 3111 out of hours.
UK civil air operators are recommended not to enter FIR PYONGYANG (ZKKP) and are advised to take potential risk into account over the Sea of Japan (within the geographical coordinates of 1280000E and 1400000E degrees of longitude). Potential risk from unannounced missile tests.
Contact UK Department for Transport +44 (0)207-082 6639 or +44 (0)207-944 3111 out of hours.
Source: OPSGROUP
Reference: Note To Members: Japan Missile Risk
Issued: 09-Aug-17, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: Since 2015, North Korea has been test-launching missiles with increasing regularity. The absolute lack of warning, coupled with an emerging picture of a focus area for re-entry, creates a risk to flight operations in the western portion of Japan’s Fukuoka FIR over the Sea of Japan. Consider rerouting to remain over the Japanese landmass or east of it. Check routings carefully for arrivals/departures to Europe from Japan, especially if planning airways which connect with the UHHH/Khabarovsk FIR at waypoints IGROD and AVGOK.
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