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Garbage balloons sent out by North Korea trigger routine disturbances at Seoul's airports

South Korea has been required to repeatedly shut down runways at the two main airports for the capital Seoul considering that June due to disruption from balloons carrying garbage launched by North Korea, a South Korean lawmaker stated on Wednesday, mentioning aviation information.

On 20 different days considering that June 1, all or some runways at Incheon and Gimpo airports were closed for landings or takeoffs, or both, when balloons were identified in the area, Democratic Party member of parliament Yang Bu-nam stated in a statement.

In overall, the closures lasted 413 minutes.

North Korea has introduced more than 5,500 balloons with bags of trash connected to them considering that late May, stating it was reacting to balloons bring propaganda brochures flown by South Korean activists.

The balloons are carried by wind and some have dropped in the South, consisting of near the presidential workplace and on airport runways.

While a lot of were eliminated by authorities without event, some have actually interrupted airport traffic and caused small fires.

On June 26, Incheon airport runways were closed for a total of 166 minutes, the most over 24 hours, according to aviation official data released by Yang's office.

On Monday, departures and landings were suspended at Incheon, the world's fifth-busiest global airport and a crucial freight hub, for a total of 90 minutes.

The balloons have likewise interfered with operations at Gimpo, which is on the western edge of the capital Seoul and primarily serves domestic flights.

An airline authorities stated the North Korean balloon project had made complex flight operations, in some cases increasing the quantity of fuel carried by airplanes in case of hold-ups in the air or diversions to alternative airports.

An aviation authority authorities said choices to close runways were made each time a balloon is discovered, considering conditions and not based on a specific distance they are from the airport.

South Korea's armed force has stated it uses monitoring possessions to track the balloons beginning when they are launched however its position has not been to shoot them down despite calls by some MPs and civic groups, citing prospective security dangers.

On Monday, the military said it was ready to take stern. military action if it thought the North had crossed the. line, however declined to elaborate.

(source: Reuters)