Observers from Canada, the Netherlands, the UK, Germany and the US will be present on 4-5 December during the final preparations for the launch of a Japanese sounding rocket from Andøya Rocket Range. They will also attend the practice countdown prior to the launch. The launch will take place between 5 and 20 December, depending on the weather and other atmospheric factors.

The invitation is part of the Norwegian authorities’ efforts to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. Inviting international observers to attend launches on a voluntary basis is a confidence-building measure under the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation of 2002. This will be the first visit of its kind.

Although there are a number of international agreements to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, there are no corresponding regimes for ballistic missiles that are binding under international law. So far 117 countries have subscribed to the Hague Code of Conduct, and this autumn the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution calling on all member countries to subscribe to the code.