A South Korean Air Force KF-16 fighter jet accidentally dropped eight bombs outside a designated firing range, injuring several civilians and causing large scale property damage.
This was confirmed by the South Korean military on Thursday, as cited by The News International.
Bombs Land in Residential Area Near North Korean Border
The incident took place around 10:00 AM local time in Pocheon, a city located 25 kilometers (16 miles) south of the heavily fortified border with North Korea. The Air Force stated that eight MK-82 general-purpose bombs were unintentionally released, landing in an area outside the intended live-fire training zone.
“We deeply regret the unintended release of the bombs, which resulted in civilian casualties, and wish those injured a swift recovery,” the South Korean Air Force said in a statement.
Authorities have launched an accident response committee to investigate the cause of the mishap and have pledged to compensate affected residents.
Chaos and Destruction as Explosions Rock Village
The National Fire Agency confirmed that the misfired bombs hit a residential village, injuring at least seven civilians—four seriously—and forcing residents to evacuate. A church building and sections of two houses sustained heavy damage, according to the statement.
One resident, identified only by his surname Park, described the terrifying moment the bombs landed.
“I suddenly heard an enormous explosion, like a thunderclap, and the whole house shook. When I went outside, everything was in chaos,” Park told Yonhap News.
A nearby senior center also felt the impact of the blast.
“A sudden explosion shook the building. The windows shattered, and one of our teachers was injured and taken to the hospital,” said the center’s director, surnamed Yu. “Fortunately, none of the seniors were hurt, but they were so frightened that we sent them all home.”
Training Exercise Gone Wrong
The KF-16 was participating in a joint live-fire military exercise involving both the South Korean Air Force and Army, as part of drills with U.S. forces stationed in the region.
The incident comes just weeks before Freedom Shield, one of the largest annual South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises, set to begin later this month.
These drills, intended to strengthen defensive readiness against North Korea, have long been a source of tension with Pyongyang, which views them as preparation for an invasion.
South Korea and the U.S. have significantly ramped up military cooperation in response to North Korea’s increased missile tests and military provocations.
This is not the first time South Korea has experienced an accident during military operations.
In 2022, a Hyunmu-2 ballistic missile misfired during a response drill against North Korea, crashing into a military golf course in Gangwon Province.
While the missile did not explode and no injuries were reported, the incident alarmed residents who saw the fire and smoke from the crash site.
