US drone almost shot down by South Korean forces due to communication error
Incident near inter-Korean border highlights procedural gaps in combined exercises.
Quick Look
- A U.S. spy drone was nearly shot down by South Korean forces near the inter-Korean border last week due to a communication error at the working level.
- The incident occurred during a routine combined exercise in Paju, north of Seoul, and was attributed to improper command reporting and failure to follow flight authorization procedures.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
A U.S. spy drone was almost shot down by South Korean forces near the inter-Korean border last week, mistaken for an enemy threat during a routine combined exercise.
By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- Last week's mix-up between South Korean and U.S. militaries over a U.S. drone flight occurred due to a communication error at the working level, a South Korean military official said Monday.
The incident came after South Korean forces detected the U.S. spy drone flying over the inter-Korean border area Thursday, mistaking it for an enemy threat and almost preparing to shoot it down.
The unmanned flying vehicle was with a U.S. Marine Corps taking part in a routine combined exercise with the South Korean Marines at a U.S. training site in Paju, north of Seoul.
The South's military conducted an inspection of the Army's 1st Corp, which has jurisdiction over the firing range.
"The inspection confirmed that the incident occurred due to a communication error between working-level personnel regarding on-site airspace control procedures," an official from the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) told reporters.
"The command reporting system did not function properly, and it was also due to a customary practice of failing to comply with official flight authorization procedures," the official said.
Open Questions
- What specific changes will be implemented in communication protocols?
- What were the exact "customary practices" that led to the failure?
