SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea has been forced to repeatedly shut down runways at the two main airports for the capital, Seoul, since June due to disruption from trash-carrying balloons launched by North Korea, a South Korean lawmaker said Wednesday, citing aviation data.
North Korea has launched more than 5,500 balloons with bags of trash attached to them since late May, saying it was responding to balloons carrying propaganda leaflets flown by South Korean activists.
The balloons are carried by wind and some have dropped in the South, including near the presidential office and on airport runways.
On June 26, Incheon airport runways were closed for a total of 166 minutes, the most over 24 hours, according to aviation data released by Yang’s office.
On Monday, the military said it was ready to take “stern military action” if it believed the North had “crossed the line,” but declined to elaborate.
Persons:
Yang Bu, “
Organizations:
South, Democratic
Locations:
SEOUL, South Korea, Seoul, North Korea, South Korean, Incheon, Korea, Gimpo, South