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By John Feng and Shane Croucher
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South Korean military jets accidentally dropped bombs in a civilian area Thursday, injuring at least 15 people and damaging nearby buildings, authorities said.
Local news outlets briefed by the country's defense ministry said the incident happened in northern Pocheon during a joint exercise with the United States. Pocheon is about 20 miles northeast of South Korean capital Seoul and about the same distance south of the North Korean border.
U.S. Forces Korea, which oversees the roughly 28,500 U.S. military personnel stationed in the country, did not immediately respond to a request from Newsweek for comment.
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Why It Matters
Pocheon's wooded areas host three live-fire training complexes, one of which was being used for target practice ahead of a major annual joint exercise set to begin next week. The incident is likely to add to the discontent of local residents who have previously complained about the frequency and intensity of military drills in their city.
The U.S. and treaty ally South Korea have stepped up air power drills in recent years amid growing tensions with North Korea's increasingly emboldened leader Kim Jong Un, who has repeatedly refused to relinquish his regime's nuclear weapons.
What To Know
South Korea's air force said KF-16 fighter jets mistakenly released eight MK-82 bombs—four from each aircraft—about 5 miles short of the intended target, injuring civilians and soldiers, and damaging three homes, according to the Yonhap news agency.
CCTV footage captured near the scene of the accident appeared to show one of the bombs exploding about 30 feet in front of a passing truck. The driver and passenger, aged 60 and 66, respectively, were seriously injured but not in life-threatening condition, Yonhap said.
"I was driving and then I heard a 'bang.' I don't remember anything after that. When I woke up, I was in an ambulance," the truck driver told Yonhap.
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South Korean officials blamed human error for the accident, saying one of the pilots dropped the live bombs after having inputted the incorrect strike coordinates prior to takeoff. A committee will investigate why bombs were also released by the second pilot, they said.
The MK-82 is a 500-pound munition commonly used by the U.S. military, while the KF-16 is South Korea's license-built variant of the U.S. Air Force's F-16 Fighting Falcon.
Pocheon Mayor Paek Young-hyun said the joint exercise took place at the Seungjin training range, which is about 15 miles south of the Demilitarized Zone.
What People Are Saying
The South Korean air force said in a public statement: "We deeply regret the unintended release of the bombs, which resulted in civilian casualties, and wish those injured a swift recovery. We will take all necessary measures, including compensation for the damage."
Paek Young-hyun, mayor of Pocheon, said in a televised address: "This was an awful accident. […] The scene of the accident where the shell fell was so chaotic that it resembled a battlefield. […] Military training should be completely halted until the government prepares measures [to prevent further casualties] that are acceptable to the citizens."
What Happens Next
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The U.S. and South Korean militaries say their joint exercises are aimed at deterring the North from provocations at the border. Pyongyang has yet to respond to the accident but is likely to used it to further criticize military maneuvers south of the border.
It remains unclear when live-fire training in Pocheon will resume, but Washington and Seoul will push ahead with their annual Freedom Shield drills beginning Monday, according to Lee Sung-jun, a spokesperson for South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Freedom Shield is one of two major U.S.-South Korea exercises each year alongside Ulchi Freedom Shield, typically held in the fall. South Korea will deploy some 19,000 troops for the upcoming drills.
This is a developing story and more information will be added shortly.
Update 3/6/25, 4:35 a.m. ET: This developing story was updated with more information.
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