The U.S. and Britain say they have joined other nations in voicing complaints over North Korea's recent string of missile launches, accusing Pyongyang of endangering international aviation.
State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki confirmed the U.S. joined other nations in co-signing a letter last week to the International Civil Aviation Organization [ICAO].
"North Korea's decision to conduct these launches without prior notice threatens the safety of international aviation and demonstrates North Korea's disregard for the rules and regulations of the organization," she said.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Britain's Foreign Office told VOA's Korean service via email that London is worried about the North’s “lack of proper prior notification of the launches.”
The ICAO is a specialized U.N. agency created by the Convention on International Civil Aviation, also known as the Chicago Convention.
During the past week, Pyongyang test-fired four missiles believed to be Scuds. The North Korean military also is believed to have fired about 100 artillery shells north of the Northern Limit Line, the de facto inter-Korean sea border.
Western countries and their allies say the North’s firing of short-range ballistic missiles is in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions banning such launches by Pyongyang.
Jee Abbey Lee contributed to this report and this report was produced in collaboration with the VOA Korean service.
