There is also a risk of mistaken identity in or near the ZKKP/Pyongyang FIR boundary, as North Korea are threatening to actively shoot down reconnaissance aircraft in their airspace. The US prohibits flights across all North Korean airspace, including the oceanic part of the ZKKP/Pyongyang FIR over the Sea of Japan.

Commercial airlines almost universally avoid North Korean airspace, specifically the Pyongyang Flight Information Region (FIR), due to significant safety risks and a lack of predictable communication. The primary concern is the frequent, unannounced testing of missiles and rockets by the North Korean military; in some instances, missiles have passed through areas occupied by civilian airliners just minutes earlier. Because North Korea does not always notify the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) of these launches, there is a legitimate fear of an accidental mid-air collision or a shoot-down incident. Additionally, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has a long-standing "Special Federal Aviation Regulation" (SFAR 79) that prohibits U.S. carriers from entering the airspace west of 132 degrees east longitude. Beyond safety, there are logistical hurdles: airlines flying over North Korea must pay substantial overflight fees to a government under heavy international sanctions. Consequently, most international flights between Japan, South Korea, and the West take a significant "dog-ear" detour to the south or north, adding time and fuel to the journey to ensure passenger safety.