An unidentified unmanned flying device was spotted in the northern area of the Civilian Control Line in Cheorwon County, Gangwon, prompting an evacuation order for residents in nearby villages. The military later confirmed the aircraft was a U.S. unmanned aerial vehicle in training.
According to Yonhap News on the 30th, a text message was sent to headmen in the northern area stating, "An unmanned aircraft has been identified in the Cheorwon area, and you must urgently move to a nearby shelter or outside a control post."
In practice, the movement of people trying to enter the Civilian Control Line zone was completely blocked. Resident A, who was passing through the scene, said, "I tried to go inside the Civilian Control Line, but access was restricted at the Dochang-ri guard post," and added, "I was told it was because an unmanned aircraft was flying."
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the unmanned aircraft was confirmed to be a U.S. asset at about 3:30 p.m., roughly an hour after the evacuation guidance was issued. Initially, Korea's military reportedly could not determine whether the unmanned aircraft was ours or belonged to North Korea's forces.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is checking the flight path and other details, including how the U.S. unmanned aircraft came to fly in the area.