SEOUL, South Korea — On Saturday, South Korea’s military reported that North Korea has once again disrupted GPS signals from areas near the border, marking the second consecutive day of such interference. This disruption has impacted an unknown number of flights and maritime operations.
The tensions between the two Koreas have escalated recently, particularly due to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un showcasing advancements in the country’s nuclear and missile capabilities. Additionally, there have been incidents of North Korea engaging in electronic and psychological tactics, including releasing thousands of balloons filled with trash and anti-South Korean propaganda leaflets aimed at the South.
According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the manipulation of GPS signals was traced to operations conducted from the western border city of Kaesong and the nearby Haeju over the past couple of days. The military mentioned that these actions disrupted numerous civilian flights as well as several maritime vessels.
While precautions were issued for aircraft and ships operating near these western border areas, the specifics of how North Korea is interfering with the GPS signals were not disclosed, nor were the full details of the disruptions made clear.
In response to these provocations, the South Korean military has firmly urged North Korea to cease its GPS interference actions immediately and has issued a strong warning that the North will be held accountable for any consequences that arise from these disruptions.
