South Korea almost shoots down US Marine drone after communication failure

Incidents like this could ‘deepen mistrust’ between the allies, experts say, urging a comprehensive review to avoid it recurring

The incident underscored the need for a comprehensive review of the allies’ command-and-control coordination, operational procedures, air defence capabilities and troop training, military experts said.

Thursday’s incident involved a US Marine Corps reconnaissance drone taking part in a joint drill with the South Korean Marines. During the exercise, both sides launched drones to verify if live-fire strikes had accurately hit their targets.

The US drone had taken off from a firing range on the banks of the Imjin River in Paju, one of the training grounds closest to the inter-Korean border. It was flying at an altitude of about 150 metres (700 feet), a level that requires prior notification to the South Korean Army’s Ground Operations Command.

Local media reported the US military had informed South Korean authorities of the exercise and later sent an official document detailing the drone operation. However, the information was not forwarded through the military chain of command, leaving frontline commanders unaware of the flight.