The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has reportedly rejected North Korea’s request to discuss its claim of a South Korean drone incursion into Pyongyang.
Government sources revealed on Thursday, that the ICAO Council dismissed the agenda item regarding the alleged drone incident during a closed-door meeting in March.
The Council deemed it inappropriate to address the drone infiltration issue, given ICAO’s primary focus on civil aviation safety.
Once dismissed, it’s virtually impossible to request a re-examination of the same agenda item through official channels.
An ICAO expert explained that the dismissal effectively closes the matter and that it could be interpreted as a decision not to pursue the issue further.
Typically, during ICAO Council meetings, countries take turns presenting their positions, similar to a United Nations (UN) General Assembly. However, North Korea reportedly did not attend this particular Council session.
South Korea was represented by its Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Montreal, who also serves as the country’s ICAO representative, along with officials from the Ministry of National Defense.
South Korean Government has consistently maintained that Pyongyang should not politicize ICAO, especially without presenting clear evidence for its claims.
ICAO, a specialized agency of the UN, was established under the Chicago Convention (Convention on International Civil Aviation) to ensure safe aircraft operations. Both South and North Korea are member states of ICAO.
Earlier this year, North Korea initiated proceedings to present an agenda item to the ICAO Council, alleging that the drone incursion over Pyongyang in October last year was orchestrated by South Korea.
