A front-line South Korean Army unit nearly intercepted and destroyed one of its own military drones during a flight test on Monday, an opposition lawmaker revealed on Tuesday, 4 August, in what critics are calling a second major operational failure within days. The incident follows a separate communication breakdown in which the same unit mistook a US spy drone for a hostile threat.

What Happened During the Flight Test

The 1st Army Corps, stationed along the western front bordering North Korea, issued an air defence alert and prepared to engage a drone belonging to the Army Test and Evaluation Group as it passed through airspace under the Corps' jurisdiction. Rep. Sung Il-jong of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) disclosed the incident at a press conference held at the National Assembly.

According to Sung, the evaluation group had notified the 1st Corps in advance of the planned flight test. Despite this, the unit stood ready to shoot down the drone — raising serious questions about internal coordination and situational awareness at one of South Korea's most sensitive front-line commands.

The Military's Explanation

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) confirmed that the military was aware of the flight test and had received prior notification from the evaluation group. However, the JCS said the drone flew at a higher altitude in the afternoon than the level declared in the advance notice, which prompted the unit to activate routine operational procedures in accordance with protocol.

The JCS also directly disputed Sung's claim that the Durumi air defence alert had been activated, stating it was never issued. In a message to reporters, the JCS cautioned: 'We express concerns that exposing the standard operational procedures of front-line units may affect our military readiness and the morale of our troops.'

The Earlier US Drone Incident

The latest episode follows a closely related incident in which the 1st Corps mistook a US military drone for a potential enemy threat due to a communication mix-up, and mobilised artillery to intercept it. That incident has already had significant consequences: the commander of the 1st Corps has been relieved of duty and is pending a disciplinary evaluation linked to that episode and other matters.

Notably, both incidents involve the same unit within a very short span — a pattern that opposition lawmakers argue reflects a systemic failure rather than isolated errors.

Political Fallout and Accountability Demands

Rep. Sung described the drone near-miss as another 'major blunder' at the Army Corps and called on Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back to resign and accept responsibility for what he characterised as severe lapses in military discipline.

'If the Army failed to even distinguish between an enemy drone and a friendly drone, it means a total breakdown of our military's operational system,' Sung said.

With the Corps commander already removed and the Defence Minister facing resignation calls, the incidents are set to intensify parliamentary scrutiny of South Korea's front-line command structure in the weeks ahead.