North Korean GPS Jamming Disrupts South Korean Vessels and Aircraft
South Korea’s military reported on Saturday that North Korea launched a GPS jamming attack over two consecutive days, disrupting several vessels and dozens of civilian aircraft operating in South Korean airspace and waters. The jamming operation, which began on Friday, has impacted operations in the West Sea, also known as the Yellow Sea, near the cities of Haeju and Kaesong.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Issue Warning
In response, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) issued a warning to ships and aircraft in the affected area to exercise caution, noting that North Korea’s GPS jamming was causing “some operational disruptions.” The JCS also demanded North Korea halt its interference, warning that it would be held accountable for its actions.
Past GPS Jamming Incidents Escalate Concerns
Earlier this year, similar GPS jamming incidents affected approximately 500 aircraft and hundreds of ships between May 29 and June 2. South Korea raised the issue with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which condemned the interference and urged North Korea to cease the attacks. The latest jamming signal was reportedly weaker than the one used in the spring, according to South Korean news agency Yonhap.
Heightened Tensions and Recent Military Provocations
This latest incident comes amid a period of heightened tensions between the two Koreas, with North Korea recently conducting multiple ballistic missile tests, destroying transport infrastructure linked to the South, and releasing debris-filled balloons into South Korean territory. Additionally, reports indicate that North Korean troops have been deployed to support Russian forces in Ukraine, further straining regional stability.
Expert Analysis and Risk Concerns
Experts are analyzing the possible motives behind North Korea’s jamming operations. Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, suggested it could be an attempt to divert international attention from North Korean troop movements or instill psychological insecurity among South Koreans. He also warned that such jamming attacks pose real risks, potentially leading to serious incidents, including aircraft accidents.
South Korean Military Response
In a show of force, South Korea fired a Hyunmoo surface-to-surface missile into the West Sea on Friday, signaling its readiness to counter North Korean provocations. The Hyunmoo missile system is central to South Korea’s ‘Kill Chain’ preemptive strike capability, intended to respond to signs of an imminent North Korean threat.