GPS Signals Jammed During Joint U.S.-South Korean Exercise In March

While conducting a major military exercise in March, a U.S. reconnaissance plane was subjected to an electronic attack from the southwestern area of North Korea which caused the aircrew to execute an emergency landing.

In information released to the media Friday, a political aide to a key defense committee chairman said the aircraft's GPS signals were jammed from transmitters in the North Korean cities of Haeju and Kaesong as it took part in the joint U.S.-South Korea "Key Resolve" drill. A description of the incident was included in a report from the defense ministry in Seoul to the parliament's defense committee. Fox News reports that, according to the document, the jamming signals forced the U.S. plane to make an emergency landing about 45 minutes after it took off. The signals also affected GPS reception on South Korean Naval patrol boats and civilian cell phone users.

U.S. and South Korean military officials would not comment on the incident. North Korea is thought to have about 20 different types of jamming devices, mostly acquired from Russia. The Yonhap news agency has reported that a new type with a range of over 62 miles is in development.

FMI: www.mnd.go.kr/mndEng/main/index.jsp