{"id":25416,"date":"2024-06-11T07:10:12","date_gmt":"2024-06-11T11:10:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/?p=25416"},"modified":"2024-06-12T05:44:17","modified_gmt":"2024-06-12T09:44:17","slug":"south-korea-airspace-risk-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/south-korea-airspace-risk-update\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea Airspace Risk Update"},"content":{"rendered":"<h6><strong>Key Points<\/strong><\/h6>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>There are no official airspace warnings for South Korea, but the risk situation seems to be getting worse.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Airspace safety is gradually deteriorating due to several factors: GPS Interference, North Korean space launches and missile tests, military drills and failed agreements with North Korea, and weird balloon incidents.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you\u2019re operating in the <strong>RKRR\/Incheon FIR<\/strong>, it is important to stay up to date with airspace risk.<\/p>\n<p>In stark comparison to North Korean airspace, which is rife with warnings and flight prohibitions, operations over South Korea continue with almost <strong>no active advisories<\/strong> to crew &#8211; save for the odd FIR Notam.<\/p>\n<p>It is not so much a matter of disinformation, but a <strong>lack of it<\/strong> that can create complacency amongst pilots operating there.<\/p>\n<p>The situation on the Korean Peninsula is unique. The two nations are not at war but remain in a state of <strong>constant readiness<\/strong> to engage in one. They live in what was once described as a \u2018reciprocal fear of surprise attack.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>This means South Korea\u2019s airspace is at constant risk of instability caused by some kind of political crisis. Things have potential to change quickly, and <strong>without warning.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It is therefore vital to monitor changes in airspace that is considered by most to be completely safe. Here is a review of what has been happening in the RKRR\/Incheon FIR lately that may have subtly been <strong>increasing risk<\/strong> to civil aircraft.<\/p>\n<h4>GPS Interference<\/h4>\n<p>The US FAA <a href=\"https:\/\/safeairspace.net\/south-korea\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">previously published<\/a> a warning for GPS interference in South Korean airspace via a KICZ Notam &#8211; but this was cancelled back in 2018. The signs are that this advice may need to be re-visited.<\/p>\n<p>On March 11, the RKRR\/Incheon FIR issued a new warning advising <strong>extreme caution\u00a0for GPS interference<\/strong> including the vicinity of RKSI\/Incheon, Seoul. The nature of the interference wasn\u2019t specified but was likely to have included spoofing.<\/p>\n<pre>RKRR Z0558\/24 - CAUTIONARY INFO FOR ACFT OPERATING IN INCHEON FIR :\r\nPILOTS HAVE REPORTED THAT GPS SIGNALS ARE UNRELIABLE OR LOST \r\nINTERMITTENTLY IN INCHEON FIR(AROUND INCHEON AND SEOUL AREA). \r\nEXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN USING GPS. \r\n10 JUN 05:51 2024 UNTIL 17 JUN 15:00 2024. \r\nCREATED: 10 JUN 05:51 2024<\/pre>\n<p>The source of the interference was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.koreaherald.com\/view.php?ud=20240308050655\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">suspected<\/a> to be North Korea attempting to interfere with military drills in the area.<\/p>\n<p>This was followed by an <strong>OPSGROUP member report<\/strong> of GPS interference during an approach to RKSS\/Seoul on May 16:<\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;GPS spoofing into RKSS\/Seoul [while] on approach to RWY 32R. We disabled hybrid and deselected GPS after seeing the risk reported on ATIS&#8230;&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Any kind of GPS interference, especially when operating in and out of Seoul, is cause for concern. It\u2019s 20nm from the North Korean border and a bunch of prohibited areas which carry chart warnings that say in very clear language that <strong>you may get shot at<\/strong> if you inadvertently enter.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-25444\" src=\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/South-Korea-spoofing-scaled-1-1024x753.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"753\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/South-Korea-spoofing-scaled-1-1024x753.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/South-Korea-spoofing-scaled-1-300x221.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/South-Korea-spoofing-scaled-1-768x565.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/South-Korea-spoofing-scaled-1-1536x1129.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/South-Korea-spoofing-scaled-1-2048x1506.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<h4>North Korea\u2019s Race to Space<\/h4>\n<p>Late last year, North Korea surprised the world by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-asia-67482405\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">launching a satellite into space<\/a> creating a potential <strong>debris field<\/strong> in the Yellow Sea between South Korea and China. The launch prompted a missile warning in Southern Japan.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_25433\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-25433\" class=\"size-large wp-image-25433\" src=\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/launch-1024x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/launch-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/launch-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/launch-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/launch-768x768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/launch-100x100.jpeg 100w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/launch-140x140.jpeg 140w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/launch-500x500.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/launch-350x350.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/launch-1000x1000.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/launch-800x800.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/launch.jpeg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-25433\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Unannounced North Korean space launches create airspace risks on a much wider scale than conventional missile tests.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Unlike conventional missile tests, space launches create hazards to aviation that <strong>extend far beyond the ZKKP\/Pyongyang FIR<\/strong> rendering existing airspace warnings arguably inadequate. Here is an example of a warning hurriedly issued for large portions of the RKRR Incheon FIR following a previously attempted space launch.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-25430 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Screenshot-2024-06-11-at-3.41.33\u202fPM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"899\" height=\"634\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Screenshot-2024-06-11-at-3.41.33\u202fPM.png 899w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Screenshot-2024-06-11-at-3.41.33\u202fPM-300x212.png 300w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Screenshot-2024-06-11-at-3.41.33\u202fPM-768x542.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 899px) 100vw, 899px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Then just weeks ago, North Korea <a href=\"https:\/\/www.38north.org\/2024\/06\/surpass-the-cutting-edge-reflections-on-north-koreas-failed-may-27-satellite-launch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">attempted to launch another<\/a> (with no prior warning) which failed spectacularly in a mid-air explosion. This prompted South Korea to conduct <strong>air drills<\/strong> with over twenty military fighter jets near the demilitarised border zone.<\/p>\n<p>North Korea have since announced to Japan their intention to<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/asia-pacific\/north-korea-plans-launch-satellite-rocket-between-may-27-june-4-japan-coast-2024-05-26\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> try again<\/a> with another <strong>potential debris field <\/strong>near the Korean Peninsula, and the Philippines Island of Luzon. The original target was June 4 but we\u2019re still waiting.<\/p>\n<p>Behind this persistence to have satellites in space is Pyongyang\u2019s ability to gather intelligence on South Korea should a conflict escalate \u2013 <strong>it seems that <\/strong><strong>risk to civil aviation is an afterthought.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h4>Ballooning Tensions<\/h4>\n<p>Earlier this month, North Korea sent at least <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/International\/north-korea-vows-pause-trash-balloon-campaign-after\/story?id=110765093\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">three and a half thousand balloons<\/a> across the border into South Korea carrying animal excrement, garbage and scrap paper. Some landed in Seoul.<\/p>\n<p>No flight disruptions were reported, but images circulating in the media show that the balloons were not small and could easily cause <strong>low level hazards<\/strong> to aircraft operating in South Korean airspace near the border.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_25431\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-25431\" class=\"size-large wp-image-25431\" src=\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Balloon-Field-1024x576.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Balloon-Field-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Balloon-Field-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Balloon-Field-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Balloon-Field.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-25431\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Earlier this month, North Korea sent three and a half thousand of these balloons across the border into South Korean airspace &#8211; some landing near Seoul.<\/p><\/div>\n<h4>Failed Pact<\/h4>\n<p>On June 4, Seoul <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/asia-pacific\/south-korea-suspend-military-agreement-with-north-korea-over-trash-ballons-2024-06-03\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">axed<\/a> a six-year old agreement with Pyongyang that was designed to calm things down between the two countries. It hoped to achieve this by prohibiting provocative military drills or carrying out psychological warfare near the border.<\/p>\n<p>Just two days later, joint drills with the US were carried out using a long-range bomber to drop <strong>precision-guided bombs<\/strong> over the Korean Peninsula. It was the first time this has happened in seven years.<\/p>\n<h4>Existing Airspace Warnings for South Korea<\/h4>\n<p><strong>They&#8217;re extremely limited.<\/strong> The Incheon FIR routinely issues temporary ones by Notam, under the RKRR designator but these can be easily missed in briefing packages. There are no other state issued warnings or advisories to report.<\/p>\n<h4>Safe Airspace<\/h4>\n<p>Perhaps more concerning to airspace safety than a single large event (such as the outbreak of war) are situations where risk <strong>gradually deteriorates<\/strong> in open and busy airspace.<\/p>\n<p>This is arguably what we are seeing right now over South Korea. All of these changes are reported on <a href=\"https:\/\/safeairspace.net\/south-korea\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">safeairspace.net<\/a> \u2013 our conflict zone and risk database.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/safeairspace.net\/south-korea\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-25396 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/SA-banner-1024x398.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"398\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/SA-banner-1024x398.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/SA-banner-300x117.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/SA-banner-768x299.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/SA-banner-1536x598.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/SA-banner.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>If you have more information to add to this briefing, we\u2019d love to hear from you. You can reach us on <a href=\"mailto:team@ops.group\">team@ops.group<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Points There are no official airspace warnings for South Korea, but the risk situation&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":25436,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[236,2154],"class_list":{"0":"post-25416","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-briefings","8":"tag-north-korea","9":"tag-south-korea"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25416","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25416"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25416\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25466,"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25416\/revisions\/25466"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25436"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25416"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}