South Korea, US conduct 1st joint drone exercise amid tensions

South Korea and the United States conducted their first-ever joint unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) exercise, according to reports.

In a statement from the South Korean Air Force, it was confirmed that the two nations organized the exercise, marking a significant collaboration in military capabilities.

The exercise featured South Korea’s RQ-4B Global Hawk reconnaissance drone alongside the U.S. MQ-9 Reaper attack drone, utilizing GBU-38 precision-guided munitions. The drill simulated a scenario targeting the source of an enemy provocation, where the South Korean UAV collected data on specified targets and shared this information with the U.S. drone, which subsequently struck the relevant targets.

A source familiar with the exercise informed Yonhap that there were no initial plans for public announcement. However, following North Korea’s intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test, the exercise was disclosed as a warning to Pyongyang.

On Thursday, North Korea launched a new type of “Hwasong-19” ICBM into the Sea of Japan (East Sea), which is believed to have achieved the longest flight duration of any missile it has launched to date.