Joint Chiefs of Staff: Unidentified Aircraft in Northern Gyeonggi Confirmed as U.S. Drone

Northern Gyeonggi Province authorities confirmed that an unidentified aircraft spotted near the civilian control line was a U.S. drone conducting training exercises.

A Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) official stated on July 30, "An unidentified aircraft was detected in the northern Gyeonggi area south of the General Outpost (GOP), and appropriate measures were taken according to operational procedures. Upon confirmation, it was identified as a U.S. drone, and the situation has been resolved."

Residents north of the military demarcation line reported that at around 2:30 p.m., messages were sent to village leaders advising them to urgently move to nearby shelters or outside control areas due to the identification of a drone in the Cheorwon area.

The JCS announced that approximately one hour after the evacuation notice, at 3:30 p.m., the unidentified aircraft was confirmed to be a U.S. drone.

The JCS is currently investigating the specific circumstances surrounding the drone's appearance in the airspace. A JCS official noted that they are still assessing the equipment specifications, stating, "It has only been confirmed on-site as a U.S. drone."