Eletronic jamming signals emitting from North Korea have disrupted more than 250 commercial flights in and out of South Korea for more than a week, stoking concerns over public safety and further provocations by the communist state following a recent failed rocket launch.

Nine Korean carriers and their nine foreign peers including Japan Airlines, Thai Airways and Garuda International experienced signal jamming with their global positioning systems between April 28 and May 6, the Transport Ministry said.

All of the flights operated normally, however, using alternative navigation schemes.

Concerns have mounted about a potential cyber war and subsequent interference with South Korean communications and traffic control systems since the secluded North has been suspected of similar jamming in the past and a spate of cyber attacks on financial institutions in Seoul last year. 


(heeshin@heraldcorp.com)