North Korea denies jamming electronic signals in South Korea

PYONGYANG - The Associated Press

South Korea conservative activists use wooden axes to beat a ball plastered with portraits of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, North Korean flags and anti-North Korea slogans during a rally against the North's recent threat in Seoul, South Korea. AP photo

North Korea is denying a claim that it jammed electronic signals on hundreds of flights and ships in South Korea.

South Korea says the North interfered with GPS on civilian flights and commercial ships operating near the nations' western border between late last month and earlier this week.

The North's Ministry of Post and Telecommunications on Friday called Seoul's claim a "smear campaign." Its spokesman accused South Korea's government of trying to escalate tension.

The spokesman was not named, as is typical in North Korea.

Planes relied on alternate navigation systems to avoid problems from the jamming. South Korea's military said its equipment wasn't affected.

The two Koreas are technically at war since the 1950s Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.