South Korea has faced significant disruptions at its two main airports in Seoul, leading to multiple runway closures since June due to North Korea balloons carrying trash.
Lawmaker Yang Bu-nam of the Democratic Party revealed on Wednesday that runways at Incheon and Gimpo airports have been shut down on 20 separate occasions since June 1, totaling 413 minutes of operational downtime.
According to Yang, the closures were prompted by the detection of these balloons in the vicinity of the airports, affecting both landings and takeoffs. North Korea has launched over 5,500 balloons with bags of trash attached since late May, claiming it is a response to South Korean activists flying propaganda leaflets into the North.
The balloons have drifted into South Korean territory, with some landing near key locations, including the presidential office and airport runways. While most of the balloons have been removed without incident, a few have caused disruptions to airport traffic and even sparked small fires.
In a particularly notable incident on June 26, Incheon International Airport, recognized as the world’s fifth-busiest international airport, was forced to close its runways for a total of 166 minutes within a single day. More recently, operations were halted for 90 minutes on Monday due to balloon sightings, complicating flight schedules and operations.
Airline officials have indicated that the North Korean balloon campaign has significantly affected flight operations. In some instances, planes have been required to carry additional fuel to account for potential delays or diversions to alternative airports due to the disruptions.
The South Korean military has stated that they track the balloons using surveillance assets from the moment they are launched. Despite mounting pressure from some lawmakers and civic groups to shoot the balloons down, the military has opted not to do so, citing safety concerns.
On Monday, the military warned that it would take “stern military action” if it determined that North Korea had “crossed the line,” although details on what that entails were not disclosed.
As tensions between the two Koreas continue to mount, the impact of North Korea’s balloon campaign has raised concerns about aviation safety and operational efficiency in South Korea.
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