INNOCENT PASSAGE OF VESSELS: SUSPENSION

HL Deb 01 February 1978 vol 388 cc847-8WA

Lord KENNET

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In the territorial seas of which States has "innocent passage" been suspended, and for how long, and how often.

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

According to information held by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, on 1st August 1977, North Korean authorities announced the establishment of a military zone up to 50 miles out to sea off the East coast of Korea, and up to 200 miles off its West coast. All foreign naval vessels and military aircraft are reportedly banned from the zone. It appears that nonmilitary ships may only use the zone with prior permission. In 1967 the Government of India declared the territorial waters of the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands closed to all foreign shipping.