Key facts
- A U.S. military drone flew near the inter-Korean border in northern Gyeonggi Province.
- South Korean troops nearly shot down the unidentified aircraft before identifying it as a U.S. drone.
- Civilian evacuation notices were issued in the border region due to the security scare.
- The drone belonged to the U.S. Marine Corps and was participating in joint exercises.
- South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff will conduct a review of the incident's handling.
South Korean military inspectors are set to visit an army corps to review an incident where troops nearly shot down an unidentified aircraft near the border with North Korea before determining it was a U.S. drone participating in joint exercises. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) stated the aircraft was detected in northern Gyeonggi province and dealt with under standard operational procedures. The episode triggered a security scare, leading military units to issue evacuation notices to residents and farmers in the Civilian Control Zone. South Korean forces initially struggled to identify the aircraft's origin, heightening their response posture. U.S. Forces Korea confirmed the drone belonged to the U.S. Marine Corps and was part of a joint exercise, adding that they are assessing the circumstances. The incident highlights heightened sensitivity along the border amid persistent military tensions with North Korea.