Military helicopter accidentally entered DMZ during wildfire operation in March: JCS
Published: 05 Apr. 2026, 12:30
![The demilitarized zone is seen from Paju, Gyeonggi on May 2, 2025. [YONHAP]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/04/05/ea659e20-f11b-4aee-adea-40803477ea06.jpg)
The demilitarized zone is seen from Paju, Gyeonggi on May 2, 2025. [YONHAP]
A South Korean military helicopter accidentally entered the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas last month during wildfire operations, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Sunday.
An Army Surion helicopter mistakenly entered the buffer zone on March 23 after being deployed to help extinguish a wildfire in the border county of Yeoncheon, according to the JCS.
The helicopter at the time reportedly did not have approval to enter the South Korean side of the DMZ from the UN Command (UNC), which oversees operations inside the heavily fortified area.
The aircraft is said to have flown close to the military demarcation line, which divides the 4-kilometer-wide (2.5-mile-wide) no man's land, prompting an investigation by the South Korean military and the UNC into whether it flew past the borderline.
The North Korean military, however, showed no unusual reaction at the time. The homegrown helicopter reportedly was not carrying weapons during the flight.
A JCS official said the incident is being investigated but declined to offer details, citing operational security.
The DMZ is a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.
Yonhap
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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