Reports from South Korean aviation authorities or major news agencies

North Korea's Balloon Campaign and GPS Spoofing Disrupt South Korean Airspace

Jul 14, 2024, 01:10 PM

North Korea has escalated tensions with South Korea by launching hundreds of balloons carrying trash and human excrement into South Korean airspace. This campaign, which began in late May, is a retaliatory measure against South Korean activists who have been sending political leaflets over the border via balloons. The situation has been further complicated by North Korea's increased use of GPS spoofing, which has disrupted commercial flight operations in South Korea. Kim Jo Yong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has vowed to continue these actions in response to the South Korean leafleting campaign, calling the activists 'scum.' The balloons have been launched during a series of late-night events. Aviation experts have expressed concerns over the heightened risks in South Korean airspace due to these activities.