Trash Balloons Sent by North Korea Cause Regular Disruptions at Seoul’s Airports

By Jack Kim

SEOUL – South Korea has had to close runways at its two main airports multiple times since June due to disruptions caused by balloons carrying trash that have been launched by North Korea, according to a South Korean lawmaker.

Democratic Party member Yang Bu-nam reported that since June 1, runways at Incheon and Gimpo airports were closed for landings or takeoffs on 20 separate days when these balloons were detected in the area. Overall, the closures amounted to a total of 413 minutes.

North Korea has sent over 5,500 balloons with bags of trash affixed to them since late May, claiming the action is a response to South Korean activists who have flown balloons carrying propaganda leaflets into the North. The wind has carried many of these balloons into South Korean territory, including areas near the presidential office and directly onto airport runways.

While most of these balloons have been removed without significant incidents, some have caused disruptions to airport traffic and minor fires. Notably, on June 26, Incheon airport experienced runway closures totaling 166 minutes, the most within a 24-hour period, based on aviation data shared by Yang’s office. More recently, on Monday, both takeoffs and landings at Incheon—one of the busiest international airports in the world and a crucial cargo hub—were halted for 90 minutes.

The balloon incidents have similarly affected operations at Gimpo, which primarily serves domestic flights on the western edge of Seoul. An airline official noted that the ongoing balloon campaign from the North has complicated flight operations, sometimes requiring planes to carry additional fuel for unexpected delays or diversions.

An official from the aviation authority explained that the decision to close runways is made every time a balloon is spotted, taking into account the specific conditions rather than a fixed distance from the airport.

South Korea’s military has reported that it monitors the balloons starting from their launch but has opted not to shoot them down, despite requests from some lawmakers and civic organizations due to potential safety concerns. On Monday, the military stated it was prepared to take "stern military action" if it judged that North Korea had "crossed the line," though they provided no further details.