A South Korean Air Force KF-16 fighter jet accidentally released eight bombs outside of its designated firing range during a live-fire training exercise in Pocheon, some 16 miles south of the heavily fortified border with North Korea, resulting in injuries to civilian residents and property damage, Al Jazeera reports, citing AFP.
The incident occurred around 10 am local time (01:00 GMT) on Thursday. The bombs, identified as MK-82 general-purpose bombs, landed in a village, causing significant disruption and necessitating the displacement of residents.
“Eight MK-82 general-purpose bombs were abnormally released from an Air Force KF-16 aircraft, landing outside the designated firing range,” the Air Force confirmed in a statement. “We deeply regret the unintended release of the bombs, which resulted in civilian casualties, and wish those injured a swift recovery.”
According to South Korea’s National Fire Agency, the incident resulted in four serious injuries and three minor injuries. One church building and sections of two houses were also damaged.
The Air Force has established an accident response committee to investigate the cause of the accidental release. They have pledged to “take all necessary measures, including compensation for damages.”
The military jet was participating in a joint live-fire exercise involving both the Air Force and Army. While the Air Force did not initially specify the involvement of the US military, state-funded Yonhap News Agency reported that South Korea was holding combined live-fire drills with the United States in Pocheon on Thursday.
The National Fire Agency corroborated this, stating that the bombs were “presumed to have fallen on a village during a South Korea-US joint exercise.”
The incident comes ahead of the planned “Freedom Shield” military exercises, one of the largest annual joint exercises between South Korea and the United States, set to begin later this month.
The Korean Peninsula remains technically at war as the 1950-1953 Korean War ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty.
