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South Korea trained weapons on US drone after comms breakdown

The US Marine Corps reconnaissance drone was flying at about 150 metres, but notice was not relayed to South Korea’s Ground Operations Command through the military chain.

Reported · Written up by our desk · North America

An apparent communication failure between US and South Korean forces led South Korean troops to train their weapons on a US Marine Corps reconnaissance drone during a joint exercise near the inter-Korean border, according to SCMP Economy. SCMP Economy reports the incident began when both militaries launched drones to verify whether live-fire strikes hit their targets. The US drone took off from a firing range on the banks of the Imjin River in Paju, one of the training grounds closest to the border.

The drone was flying at an altitude of about 150 metres, a level that requires prior notification to South Korea’s Ground Operations Command. SCMP Economy said local media reported the US side informed South Korean authorities of the exercise and later sent an official document outlining the drone operation.

However, SCMP Economy reported the information was not forwarded through South Korea’s military chain of command, leaving frontline commanders unaware of the flight, and prompting a broader call for review of allied command-and-control coordination, operational procedures, and air defence and troop training.

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