[FPSPACE] Shooting down a North Korean Satellite launch

[Phillip Clark]

I am curious from a Space Law point-of-view what the legalities might be of shooting down a launch vehicle that is intended to place a satellite into orbit: of course, I am thinking of the planned North Korean launch at present.

We are not in a time of war and the North Korean satellite is being described as being for communications.   There are reports of US and Japanese government and other officials talking about shooting down the launch vehicle during its ascent.

There have also been similar rumblings from Israel about the Iranian satellite programme, so it would be good to know what the legal situation is rather than the emotive political retoric.

Phillip Clark

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