`N. Korea could try to disrupt GPS during Seoul nuke summit`

The South Korean military is on high alert as an analysis suggests that North Korea will likely launch an attack to disrupt the global positioning system to obstruct the Nuclear Security Summit Seoul 2012, which will run March 26 and 27.

According to the South Korea`s ranking military sources on Monday, Seoul has begun to prepare measures, including tracing of Pyongyang`s military moves, to counter the North’s transmission of radio frequency interference to disrupt GPS targeting Yeongjong Island in Incheon before or during the summit.

Most of 50 leaders attending the summit will arrive in Seoul via Incheon International Airport using their own planes or chartered flights, excluding those from major countries such as the U.S., China, Russia and Japan. Analysts say chances are high North Korea will launch e-warfare to threaten the security at the Incheon airport.

Experts added that the North Korean military could also interrupt GPS at the instruction of a higher chain of command, by using the excuse of the South Korea-U.S. Key Resolve/Foal Eagle Drill, which will take place during the summit.

A South Korean military source said, “Mobile telecom systems, including aircraft navigation systems and mobile phones, are highly susceptible to interruption of GPS signals,” adding, “If abnormality occurs in the navigation systems of civilian airplanes or flight control systems due to the North’s interruption of GPS signals, the security issue could be raised ahead of the event.”

ysh1005@donga.com