• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.3
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• pp.233-258
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• 1991

This paper examines current developing status of space law as defined in terms of its unique principle that "the utilization of outer space for all mankind's interest". As commercialization of space activities has brought about heated debate on its legitimacy with respect to that principle, space law has come to witness a dual situation. One is the realization of that principle in establishing commercial space activities system where all mankind's interest is respected through the non-discriminatory distribution mode of space benefit. In satellite telecommunication system, the INTELSAT Organization assures its public service policy while protecting itself against a competition from separate systems. For remote sensing, commercialization of LANDSAT Systems promoted since 1984 seems not to affect present non-discriminatory distribution of data and information obtained. On the other hand, active participation of private entity aiming at commercial profit enables national government to manage more effective control and supervision of those activities with a view to promoting national interests. Also, newly developed private rules and regulations are emerging in business relations about commercial space activities. Extended capacity of national government assuring its national interest in production and distribution of international resources that is outer space, and regulation of space activities by newly developed rules and customs provoke a concern about a identity problem of space law. The best way to summarize this perspective might consist in saying that non space law regulations, which are not assumed as aiming at the promotion of all mankind's interest, are confirming their role about space related activities. For those reasous, we are now facing a developing status of space law as developments of commercial space activities continues.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.79-123
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• 2019

This article refers to the Space security legislation in South Korea and Poland. Both states have already prepared some legislation on Security in Space- the question is the following- if there is still a need of progress and if those presented legislation are sufficient for the practical purposes of the peaceful uses of Outer Space. South Korea is a much more experienced state in using space than Poland; the same seems with the legislation. Poland as less experienced state in this matter has lots of ambitions to create the efficient legislation on Space security, so it must follow the good examples of states and institution in this matter. One of them is Korea. On the other state, Poland as a Member of EU must implement the European law in space security (in particular SSA), which seems to be priceless and efficient for the international cooperation in Space.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.14
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• pp.175-206
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• 2001

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.213-233
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• 2004

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.15
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• pp.35-39
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• 2002

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.16
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• pp.224-235
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• 2002

The problem of space debris has been dealt with at the STSC of the COPUOS. The technical discussion at the said Committee was finished by adopting the Technical Report in 1999. Its legal discussion will be followed very soon at the LSC of the COPUOS. In this paper, I try to outline certain legal points concerning the space debris.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.35-59
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• 2018

Professor Bin Cheng said that outer space was res extra commercium, while the moon and the other celestial bodies were res nullius before the 1967 Outer Space Treaty(OST). However, Article 2 of the OST made the moon and other celestial bodies have the legal status as res extra commmercium, not appropriated by any country or private enterprises or individual person, but the resources there can be freely available, as those on the high seas. The non-appropriation principle was introduced to corpus juris spatialis internationalis. Whether or not the non-appropriation principle is binding for the non-parties of the OST, many scholars see this principle as an international customary law, even developing into jus cogens. Article 11(2) of the Moon Agreement(MA) reconfirms the nonappropriation principle of Article 2 of the OST, but it has much less effect than the OST because the MA binds only the 18 parties involved. The MA applies only to the moon and celestial bodies other than the Earth in the Solar System, the OST's application scope extends to the Galaxy because the OST has no such substantive enactment. As referred to in the 2015 CSLCA of USA or Luxembourg's Law of Space Resources, allowing individuals and enterprises run by other countries to commercially explore and utilize the space resources, the question may arise whether this violates the non-appropriation principle under Article 2 of the OST and Article 11 of the MA. In the case of the CSLCA, the law explicitly specifies that sovereignty, possessory rights, and judiciary rights to a specific celestial body cannot be claimed, let alone ownership. This author believes that this law respects the legal status of outer space and the celestial bodies as res extra commmercium. As long as any countries or private enterprises or individuals respect the non-appropriation principle of outer space and the celestial bodies, they could use, exploit it. Another question might be raised in the difference between res extra commercium on the high seas and res extra commercium in outer space and the celestial bodies. Collecting resources on the high seas and exploiting space resources should be interpreted differently. On the high seas, resources can be collected without any obstacles like fishing, whereas, in the case of the deep sea-bed area, the Common Heritage of Mankind principles under the UNCLOS should be operated by the International Seabed Authority as an international regime. The nature or form of the sea resources found on the high seas are thus different from that of space resources, which are fixed on the moon and the celestial bodies without water. Thus, if individuals or private enterprises collect these resources from outer space and the celestial bodies, they might secure a certain section and continue collecting or mining works without any limitation. If an American enterprise receives an approval from the U.S. government, secures the best location and collects resources on the moon, can other countries' enterprises access to this area? How large the exploiting place can be allotted on the moon? How long should such a exploiting activity be lasted? Under the current international space law, these matters might be handled according to the principle of "first come, first served." As a consequence, the international community should provide a guideline or a proposal for the settlement of any foreseeable disputes during the space activity to solve plausible space legal questions in the near future.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.29-54
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• 2007

Nuclear Power Sources(NPS) have been used since 1961 for the purpose of generating energy for space objects and have since then been recognized as particularly suited essential to some space operations. In January 1978 a malfuctioning Soviet nuclear powered satellite, Cosmos 954, re-entered the earth's atmosphere and disintegrated, scattering radioactive debris over a wide area of the Canadian Northwest Territory. This incident provided some reasons to international legal scholars to make some principles to regulate using NPS in outer space. In 1992 General Assembly adopted "Principles Relevant to the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space". These NPS Principles set out certain legal and regulatory requirements on the use of nuclear and radioactive power sources for non-propulsive purposes. Although these principles, called 'soft laws', are not legal norms, they have much enfluences on state practices such as 1983 DBS Principles(Principles Governing the Use by States of Artificial Earth Satellites for International Direct Television Broadcasting), 1986 RS Principles(Principles Relating to Remote Sensing of the Earth from Space) and 1996 Declaration on International Cooperation in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space for the Benefit and in the Interests of all States, Taking into Particular Account the Needs of Developing Countries. As far as 1963 Declaration of Legal Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space is concerned the main points such as free use of outer space, non-appropriation of celestial bodies, application of international law to outer space etc. have become customary international law binding all states. NPS Principles might have similar characters according to states' willingness to respect them.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• no.spc
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• pp.35-58
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• 2007

Nuclear Power Sources(NPS) have been used since 1961 for the purpose of generating energy for space objects and have since then been recognized as particularly suited essential to some space operations. In January 1978 a malfuctioning Soviet nuclear powered satellite, Cosmos 954, re-entered the earth's atmosphere and disintegrated, scattering radioactive debris over a wide area of the Canadian Northwest Territory. This incident provided some reasons to international legal scholars to make some principles to regulate using NPS in outer space. In 1992 General Assembly adopted "Principles Relevant to the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space". These NPS Principles set out certain legal and regulatory requirements on the use of nuclear and radioactive power sources for non-propulsive purposes. Although these principles, called 'soft laws', are not legal norms, they have much enfluences on state practices such as 1983 DBS Principles(Principles Governing the Use by States of Artificial Earth Satellites for International Direct Television Broadcasting), 1986 RS Principles(Principles Relating to Remote Sensing of the Earth from Space) and 1996 Declaration on International Cooperation in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space for the Benefit and in the Interests of all States, Taking into Particular Account the Needs of Developing Countries. As far as 1963 Declaration of Legal Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space is concerned the main points such as free use of outer space, non-appropriation of celestial bodies, application of international law to outer space etc. have become customary international law binding all states. NPS Principles might have similar characters according to states' willingness to respect them.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.9
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• pp.435-443
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• 1997

Passing 26 years from 1970 when the first satellite was launched into the orbit, Japan developed and successfully launched H-II from Tanegashima Space Center in 1994. During those period, Japanese space policy has experienced a big shake from independent development to technology import from the US, and back again to independent development. In general, the H-II rocket which was manufactured by 100% domestic technology, brings Japan from the old era (experimental stage) to the new era (practical use stage). Fundamental Policy of Japan's Space Activities, which decides such policy as mentioned, was revised in January, 1996 this year after an interval of 7 years. This revised outline confirms the result of Japanese space technology until present and identifies the future direction and framework of her space activities for a period of coming ten years on the basis of a ong-term perspective towards the 21st century. However, when comparing with the last Fundamental Policy in 1989, there seems no big change in it, and a long-term perspective is also not seen there. The description varies on some important points in international space law, like international cooperation, protection of environment, commercial use, etc. In addition, the immaturity as well as the necessity of broader discussion are felt because neither this Fundamental Policy nor The National Defense Program Outline treated any national and international security matters concerning outer space. Considering the present time when Japan enters into the practical use of outer space, such as application, commercial use and launching service, etc, it is doubtful whether new Fundamental Policy was properly planned or not. It seems necessary to use several measures by which the public opinion, opinions from industry and debate on the security are reflected in the policy making.