S. Korea seeks reopening of air routes through NK airspace

By Park Ji-won

The South Korean government is preparing to reopen air routes that go through North Korean airspace to save time on flights to Russia as well as Europe and North America, according to government officials.

These are part of the measures Seoul is seeking in line with agreements made at the inter-Korean summit on April 27. North Korea has applied to an international flight organization to start a new air route that also runs through the two Koreas.

“We are carefully reviewing (the air route changes) in the spirit of economic cooperation between the two Koreas,” said an official, Tuesday, of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to The Korea Times, on condition of anonymity.

“We are analyzing the effects of cutting the flight route, fuel costs and times, and assuming that the North Korea-the U.S. summit goes well,” another official at the ministry was quoted as saying.

“Airline companies are waiting to resume flight operations. There is no argument over the issue as it is a win-win for both sides. If the summit ends successfully, we would be able to promptly start the process.”

The government's move will likely welcome the North's move to expand its economy between the Koreas in tandem with the North's summit with the U.S in Singapore.

A Cheong Wa Dae official welcomed Washington's decision to economically support the North, saying “the sooner (the process for such an investment is made), the better.”

Washington has pledged a plan for U.S. firms to invest in North Korea if Pyongyang completely dismantles its nuclear arsenal. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the Trump administration is also open to lifting sanctions on the North.

Image from the document of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The air route B467 is seen in a thick dotted line.

The reopening of the air route which will likely be discussed is B467. The route is currently the only way to cross the eastern oceanic sector of the Pyongyang flight information region (FIR) to fly to Russia, North America and Europe from South Korea.

The FIR, allotted to an ICAO member, is a specific region in which air traffic services are provided for safe and secure flight standards.

The course was added in 1998, but halted in 2010 for safety. In March 2010, the torpedo attack by the North occurred that sank a South Korean naval ship in Cheonan, killing 46 sailors. Since then, international airlines, including South Korean carriers, have been taking indirect routs to avoid the North, and paying extra for fuel, as it couldn't cross the North Korean air path.

After the attack, in May 2010, the South Korean government announced the so-called “May 24 measure” that prohibits the airline from commuting above North Korean territory as well as halting trade and shipping operations between two Koreas.

According to Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the Bareunmirae Party, Korean carriers are wasting money on the detour under the measure. Korean Air and Asiana Airlines are additionally paying some 9 billion won and 12 billion won, respectively, in a year compared to when they could fly over the North as they spend more time in the air.

Ha insists, if they can fly over the North, they will save some 3.4 billion won annually, especially on some routes between Asia and Europe and North America.

The use of the North's airspace also cuts flight distance by 100 to 300 miles, according to media reports.

New air route

South Korea said on May 8 that the North had proposed new international flights flying through the two countries after the historic meeting last month.

Pyongyang recently made the suggestion to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to begin flights to a third country, which connects the FIR between Pyongyang and Incheon, according to Cheong Wa Dae officials.

Government officials are cautious about revealing details about the progress of the matter.

“We never talked about a direct air route (with the North). We can announce details later,” said the official at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

However, critics expect that by beginning direct flights, they will benefit the two Koreas in a way to enhance ties.

“By signing flight agreements, the two Koreas can come up with direct air routes that can connect each other more smoothly than through international routes,” Sehan University professor Chung Yoon-sik was quoted as saying.

Sanctions can be lifted?

There are hurdles to overcome about the air routes. In order to resume and begin air routes, the U.N. sanctions on North Korea should be relaxed first as they have limited the passage of ships and flights since 2016 going to the North.

In 2016, the U.N. toughened sanctions on North Korea in response to its nuclear program, inspecting all cargo going in and out of the nation, banning all armament trade and expanding the list of individuals facing sanctions.

Analysts say the U.N.'s sanctions can be relieved through discussions during the summit in Singapore. President Trump is planning to meet with Guterres on Friday at the White House to discuss North Korean issues that are likely to involve the U.S. in moving to use the U.N.'s sanctions as leverage to seek complete denuclearization of the North, analysts expect.

“(Ryan) Hass and I argued that the U.N. sanctions are a different matter, and provide the international community with more flexibility and negotiating leverage for an interim deal achieving only some of our objectives,” said Brookings Institution analyst Michael E. O'Hanlon in his journal on April 27.

The analyst points out the U.N. sanctions can be eased in the early stages if North Korea is partially reducing its nuclear arsenal.

“Some of these sanctions can be eased, suspended, and ultimately lifted if North Korea verifiably ends production of fissile material for nuclear bombs, as well as ending the production and testing nuclear warheads and the production and testing of medium-range and long-range missiles.”

“There needs not be a complete denuclearization deal up front for some of this to happen. Ideally, human rights dialogue would be initiated as well, as part of any such deal _ to go along with the family reunions that the two Koreas have just agreed to resume _ as well as dialogue on limiting conventional weaponry on the peninsula someday.”