Pyongyang sending GPS-jamming signals to Seoul

South Korea's defence ministry on Friday said North Korea has been sending disruptive signals to jam global positioning system (GPS) in the country.

Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-Gyun said North Koreas's jamming operations are expected to continue for the time being as Pyongyang seemed to be aiming to raise tensions on the Korean peninsula by showing off its capability of disrupting GPS signals in South Korea, Xinhua reported.

North Korea began late Thursday to send the GPS-disrupting signals to South Korea from several regions north of the military demarcation line (MDL) dividing the two Koreas, including the western port city of Haeju and Mount Kumgang on the east coast.

Moon said there has been no damage reported in South Korea from North Korea's jamming operations, but he noted that if any damage happens to South Korean ships and airplanes, Seoul will make Pyongyang "pay a due price".

Jamming signals could cause malfunction of mobile phones and disruption of GPS in planes and vessels, which depend on the positioning system for navigation.

Pyongyang reportedly has GPS-disrupting devices. The country has allegedly tested its devices from a month ago before launching an attack this week.

The spokesman said North Korea's jamming devices could reach more than 100 km and affect Seoul and its suburban areas.

He noted that the South Korean military has equipment capable of detecting the jamming operations.

Unification Ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-Hee told a press briefing that jamming the GPS signals in South Korea itself was an act of provocation, and urged Pyongyang to "immediately stop such provocations that will not provide any help to improve inter-Korean relations".