South Korea Relieves Commander After Near-Strike of U.S. Drone

The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea determined that a communication error between working-level personnel nearly led South Korean forces to shoot down a U.S. Marine Corps reconnaissance drone on July 29, 2026. During a combined exercise in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, the U.S. military notified an official in the South Korean Army's 1st Corps of a flight plan via mobile text message. The official failed to notify superiors, mistakenly assuming the drone would remain at a low altitude within the corps' discretionary authority.

Because the drone flew higher than expected, it entered airspace requiring South Korean Air Force approval. South Korean military forces misidentified the aircraft as an unidentified flying object and activated the Durumi readiness posture, mobilizing helicopters and anti-aircraft weapons. The situation prompted evacuation orders for residents in Gangwon Province north of the Cheorwon civilian control line.

The Ministry of National Defense subsequently relieved the Army 1st Corps commander of his duties and launched an investigation. The Joint Chiefs of Staff attributed the near-collision to a breakdown in the chain of command and a problematic customary practice of using informal text messages instead of official documentation for flight authorizations. Military officials stated the incident demonstrates the need for stricter compliance with regulatory airspace control procedures between the two allied militaries.