Two South Korean fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs on a civilian area during a joint live-fire exercise with U.S. military forces on Thursday, resulting in injuries to eight people.
The bombs, MK-82 models, were released by the KF-16 fighter jets and landed outside the designated firing range, according to a statement from the air force. The air force expressed regret over the incident, offering apologies and wishing for the quick recovery of the injured individuals. Additionally, they committed to providing compensation and taking further necessary actions.
The drill took place in Pocheon, a city near the heavily fortified border with North Korea. The South Korean fighter jets were participating in the one-day exercise with U.S. forces when the accident occurred.
The air force also announced that a committee would be formed to investigate the incident and assess the extent of the damage caused.
A source within the air force, speaking on condition of anonymity, explained to local media that one of the KF-16 pilots had mistakenly entered incorrect coordinates for the bombing target. Additionally, a defense ministry official, who also wished to remain unidentified, stated that further inquiries were needed to determine why the second KF-16 jet also dropped bombs on a civilian area.
In a televised statement, Pocheon Mayor Paek Young Hyeun described the bombings as “awful” and urged the military to suspend exercises in the city until it develops reliable measures to prevent such incidents from happening again. He pointed out that Pocheon, home to 140,000 residents, hosts three major firing ranges used by both the South Korean and U.S. militaries.
Park Seong-sook, a 70-year-old witness who was unharmed in the bombing, said she initially thought “a war has broken out.” She described the sound as so loud it left her shaking with fear.
Later on Thursday, the military announced it would suspend all live-fire exercises across South Korea.
This incident occurred just ahead of the South Korean and U.S. military’s planned large-scale annual drills, set to begin on Monday.
While it remains unclear how long the suspension will last, experts believe it will continue until the military investigates the cause of the accident and establishes measures to prevent it from happening again.
Pocheon’s disaster response department reported that six civilians and two soldiers were injured and are currently receiving treatment at hospitals. Four of the injured, all civilians, are in serious condition, with two of them being foreign nationals — one from Thailand and the other from Myanmar.
The department also noted that three houses, a Catholic church, and a greenhouse sustained partial damage. However, it appears that none of these structures were directly struck by the bombs.