‘No sail, no fly zone’ lifted after failed N. Korea rocket launch

MANILA, Philippines—The National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) lifted the “no sail, no fly zone”for the 590 square kilometer area east of Luzon following the failed rocket launch of North Korea Friday.

NDRRMC Executive Director Benito Ramos said they opted to lift the ban because the rocket fell into the Yellow Sea near China five minutes after the launch.

Luzon was one of the areas where debris from the rocket had the launch been successful may have fallen, prompting the government to set up contingency measures.

But Ramos said, “The area where the rocket fell is far from the Philippines.”

Ramos said they also lowered the red alert status in the coutry to blue.

But Ramos said that while the “no fly zone” has been lifted, it was still up to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to implement it.

In a separate radio interview, Joy Songson, CAAP spokesperson, said that rerouting scheme for airplanes in the affected area would continue until April 16.