U.S. military drone flies over inter-Korean border area, prompts civilian evacuation

A U.S. military drone flew over an inter-Korean border region during combined drills with South Korea on Thursday, military officials said, prompting residents in the area to evacuate as a precaution.

The unmanned flying vehicle was detected south of a general outpost in northern Gyeonggi Province near the border with North Korea and was later identified as a U.S. military drone belonging to its Marine Corps stationed here, according to military officials from both sides.

"Upon further verification, the unmanned vehicle was identified as a U.S. military drone participating in a training exercise," an official from South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) told reporters.

The JCS official said operation measures were carried out in line with standard protocol.

The U.S.

Forces Korea (USFK) also confirmed it was one of its drones and said it was working with South Korean authorities to assess the situation.

"This incident occurred during bilateral training between U.S.

Marines and the Republic of Korea Marine Corps' 1st Marine Division," the USFK said, referring to South Korea by its officia ...