South Korea military prepared to shoot down US drone near North border after mix-up

South Korean residents near the heavily fortified border with North Korea received an urgent text message on July 30: evacuate immediately. The military had detected an unidentified aircraft and prepared to shoot it down. The alert lasted about an hour before the aircraft was identified as a US drone participating in a joint exercise with South Korea.

The US Forces Korea confirmed the aircraft was an American drone and stated that personnel are assessing the incident and coordinating with their South Korean counterparts. The episode underscores the extreme sensitivity surrounding drone activity on the Korean peninsula, a region already on high alert due to repeated provocations.

Tensions have escalated significantly since 2022, when North Korea sent drones across the border, including one that neared the presidential office. South Korea had previously refrained from shooting down such incursions, citing risks to civilians in populated areas. The military's readiness to engage a friendly drone highlights the precarious security environment.

The incident also occurs amid broader strains in the US-South Korea alliance, touching on issues from trade to defense. It happened just as the new US ambassador to South Korea arrived in Seoul, filling a 18-month vacancy. Some South Korean civic groups have called for an investigation and an apology from the US military.

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US Marine Corps personnel are assessing the circumstances surrounding the incident and continue to coordinate with our Republic of Korea Marine Corps partners and appropriate local authorities.