SOLVED

The flash hider appears to be the plastic airsoft version of a pin&weld. Can I drill that out and unscrew the flash hider or is there more to it?

Side note: Can you remove the barrel nut on this model just by unscrewing it or is there glue?

Edit: I ended up drilling the flash hider around the pin in order to pull the pin out with needle nose pliers. The flash hider had some glue on it, but it wasn't enough to stop some channel locks. Lefty threads for anyone who's wondering. The barrel nut came off pretty easily with channel locks as well (traditional righty-tighty lefty-loosie) no glue on that. Originally I was worried about damaging my upper receiver. Turns out I had nothing to worry about.