North Korea's trash balloons pose threat to flights, official warns

North Korea’s trash balloons can pose a threat to flights, an aviation official cautioned, a day after South Korea’s busiest airport temporarily halted operations when at least one balloon landed on the tarmac.

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North Korea flew another 180 balloons carrying trash into South Korea from the night of June 26. This added to the more than 2,000 balloons floated towards its neighbour since May that have caused a nuisance in Seoul and surrounding areas.

The balloons are part of a show of anger at South Korea for measures at the border that Pyongyang has complained are a threat to its sovereignty.

Departures and landings were disrupted on June 26 at Incheon International Airport which serves Seoul. The airport is about 40km south of the border with North Korea and could be on the flight path of the balloons.