Northeast Luzon declared 'no fly zone' over NoKor launch

MANILA, Philippines - The government's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Tuesday declared that Northeast Luzon will be a "no fly zone" in anticipation of North Korea's rocket launch.

The NDRRMC announced after a meeting with all concerned government agencies that all aircrafts should avoid flying over Northeast Luzon from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. on April 12 to April 16.

President Benigno Aquino III, who could not join the meeting as he is attending the 20th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Cambodia, had said that the government will prepare measures to address the possible impact of North Korea's planned rocket launch next month.

North Korea is scheduled to launch the rocket sometime between 7 a.m. to noon (Philippine time) from April 12 to 16.

The President said the government would implement security measures and seek help from other countries, such as the member-states of the ASEAN in convincing Pyongyang not to push through with the launch.

NDRRMC officials, headed by its executive director Benito Ramos, discussed during the meeting the possible scenarios and contingency plans that should be adopted in areas in the rocket’s path.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said that it had issued a notice to airmen (NOTAM) to avoid Northeast Luzon on the said dates.

It said that at least 20 flights from and to United States, Japan and South Korea will be affected by the "no fly zone" declaration. The affected flights would have to take an alternative path to avoid the area.

The NDRRMC said that aircrafts are being diverted to avoid being hit by the rocket's debris. It said it will also issue advisories to provinces in Northeast Luzon that would be affected by the rocket launch.