Report: North Korea developing signal jamming device with extended range

Report: North Korea developing signal jamming device with extended range

2011-09-06 10:27:03 GMT+7 (ICT)

PYONGYANG / SEOUL (BNO NEWS) -- North Korea is developing a new signal jamming device which could have a range of more than 100 kilometers (62 miles), according to a South Korean parliamentary committee report.

The Yonhap news agency reported on Tuesday that the South Korean defense ministry believes the North has been working on a new Global Positioning System (GPS) jammer with a range of more than 100 kilometers (62 miles), among other devices to be used in electronic warfare.

The report also alleges that the North has imported around 20 communications and radar jamming devices from the old Soviet Union, which fell apart in December 1991.

North Korea is known to have mounted Russian-made jamming devices on vehicles near the military demarcation line that can disturb GPS signals within a radius of about 50 to 100 kilometers (31 to 62 miles). The new jamming device would be far more advanced.

Yonhap also reported, citing the report, that the North could soon begin developing electromagnetic pulse (EMP) bombs that can damage high-tech defense systems such as radars and communication networks. But the report admitted there has been no confirmed intelligence regarding the development of EMP bombs.

Earlier this year, South Korea alleged that the North was jamming GPS signals in its country.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula, which is officially still at war, have been at critical since a North Korean torpedo fired from a midget submarine sank the ROKS Cheonan, a South Korean Navy ship carrying 104 people. The attack in March 2010 left 46 people killed.

And months later, North Korean forces bombarded the disputed Yeonpyeong Island, prompting South Korea to return fire at North Korea. The artillery engagement from the North left two South Korean civilians killed while the South's return fire killed at least five people in North Korea.

More recently, in early August, North and South Korean forces briefly exchanged fire near their disputed maritime border. There were no casualties.

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