South Korea evacuates border residents after US drone mistaken for unidentified aircraft

South Korea ordered residents living near the heavily fortified border with North Korea to evacuate after its military mistakenly identified a US drone taking part in a joint exercise as an unidentified aircraft and prepared to shoot it down.

The incident occurred during a joint military drill involving South Korean and US forces, prompting authorities to issue evacuation orders in border areas as the aircraft was treated as a potential threat.

The US military later confirmed that the drone was an American aircraft participating in the training exercise.

“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,” US Forces Korea said in a statement to Bloomberg News.

By Aghakazim Guliyev