Pyongyang's GPS disruptions affect over 2,100 planes since 2010

Disruptions of GPS, believed to be conducted by North Korea, have affected a total of over 2,100 planes since 2010, a lawmaker claimed Tuesday.

A total of 2,143 planes have reported damage from Pyongyang-caused GPS disruptions in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2016, Rep. Jeong Yong-ki of the ruling Saenuri Party said, citing a report from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

The report said 14 planes were affected by Pyongyang's GPS jamming in August 2010, 106 planes in March 2011 and 1,016 in April 2012. In March of this year, 1,007 planes were affected by the communist state's GPS jamming.

The number of affected planes has increased as well, with 4.6 planes suffering GPS jamming-related damage on average per day in 2010, 63.5 planes in 2012 and 167.8 in 2016, it said.

The disruptions can cause mobile phones to malfunction and affect planes and ships that rely on GPS for navigation.

The ministry said jamming signals were sent from five North Korean regions -- Haeju, Yonan, Pyonggang, Kumgang and Kaesong -- between March 31 and April 6 of this year, compared with just one spot in Kaesong in 2010.

"The jamming signals were weak in the past, but recently they have become stronger," it said.

South Korea has been beefing up its system to counter North Korea's attempts in recent years, and has been conducting drills regularly and actively developing technology that can detect the source of jamming attacks. (Yonhap)