The South Korean air force has issued an apology after one of its fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs during a training exercise, injuring 15 civilians and causing damage to multiple buildings.
The incident occurred around 10 AM local time in the village of Nogok-ri, part of Pocheon, located 16 miles (25 km) from the heavily fortified border with North Korea. According to the air force, the MK-82 general-purpose bombs were “abnormally released” from a KF-16 aircraft and landed outside the designated firing range.
In a statement, the air force expressed deep regret for the incident, which resulted in civilian casualties, and wishes a swift recovery for those injured. Reports indicate that the bombs were accidentally released due to a pilot entering incorrect coordinates.
The mishap took place during preliminary live-fire exercises in preparation for the upcoming joint South Korea-US military drills, known as Freedom Shield, scheduled for March 10 to 20. In light of the incident, the live-fire exercises have been suspended as the military investigates.
Among those injured, six civilians, including two from Thailand and Myanmar, were taken to hospitals for treatment. Several others experienced anxiety, with some victims suffering neck and shoulder fractures. Fortunately, none of the injuries are considered life-threatening.
Local residents have long voiced concerns about the noise and disruptions caused by military exercises. One resident, identified only as Park, described the chaotic scene following the explosion, saying, “I heard an enormous explosion, like a thunderclap, and the whole house shook.”
Another villager, Cheon Man-ho, who lived near the blast site, thought a war had broken out when he witnessed the damage: “The roof collapsed, windows shattered, and trees were broken,” he recounted.
The military has cordoned off the area to search for any unexploded ordnance and issued evacuation orders, though they later confirmed that all eight bombs had detonated.
Photographs from the scene revealed shattered windows and a church damaged by debris. Reports indicate that several homes, a warehouse, a greenhouse, and a truck were also affected.
The air force has established an accident response committee to investigate the incident and pledged to take necessary measures, including compensating for damages. The national fire agency noted the bombs “presumably fell on a village during a South Korea-US joint exercise,” resulting in many displaced residents.
Even those in a senior citizens’ center about 1 km away felt the explosion’s impact. The center’s director, surnamed Yu, reported shattering windows and an injured staff member, while assuring that no seniors were harmed but explaining that they were frightened enough to send everyone home.
North and South Korea remain technically at war since the 1950-3 conflict concluded with an armistice rather than a peace treaty.
Credit: The Guardian
