South Korea’s air force says it accidentally dropped eight bombs in the wrong place during a training exercise.
South Korea’s air force has reported that one of its fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs in the wrong location during a training exercise, leading to civilian injuries.
“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 stated on Thursday.
The incident occurred around 10 a.m. (01:00 GMT) in Pocheon, approximately 25 km (16 miles) south of the heavily fortified border with nuclear-armed North Korea.
“We deeply regret the unintended release of the bombs, which resulted in civilian casualties, and wish those injured a swift recovery,” the air force said in a statement.
It added that an accident response committee has been established to investigate the incident and assured that it would “take all necessary measures, including compensation for damages.”
The air force explained that the military jet was “participating in a joint live-fire exercise involving both the Air Force and Army.”
South Korea was conducting combined live-fire drills with the United States on Thursday in Pocheon, according to the state-funded Yonhap News Agency.
South Korea’s National Fire Agency stated that the bombs were “presumed to have fallen on a village during a South Korea-US joint exercise,” resulting in “casualties and property damage, with many displaced residents.” It added that four people were seriously injured, and three sustained minor injuries.
One church building and sections of two houses were damaged, according to the agency’s statement.
Joint South Korea-US “Freedom Shield” military exercises, one of the largest annual joint exercises between the security allies, are scheduled to begin later this month.
The two Koreas remain technically at war since the 1950-1953 conflict ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty.
The U.S. stations tens of thousands of soldiers in South Korea, partly to protect Seoul against threats from Pyongyang.
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