ISTANBUL

A US military reconnaissance drone stationed in South Korea crashed into the Yellow Sea early Monday morning, local media reported.

The reason for the crash of the MQ-9 Reaper drone is yet to be known, local daily Korea JoongAng reported, citing the US Forces Korea (USFK).

The drone, operated by the 431st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron from Kunsan Air Base, was involved in an incident while on a routine mission and crashed into waters off Maldo-ri Island near Okdo-myeon in Gunsan, North Jeolla, the newspaper reported, citing an unnamed USFK spokesperson.

There were no injuries or damage to public property, the spokesperson said, adding that an investigation is underway.

The crash comes just two months after USFK officially confirmed the permanent deployment of Reapers to the Korean Peninsula in September.

In June, South Korea temporarily grounded its KF-16 fighter jets after one such aircraft was damaged while taking part in combined air drills with the US in Alaska.

Last month, a US Navy fighter jet and a helicopter crashed separately into the South China Sea, according to the US Navy's Pacific Fleet.

More than 28,500 US soldiers are deployed on the Korean Peninsula under a mutual defense treaty between Washington and Seoul.