South Korean fighter jets mistakenly dropped eight bombs on a civilian district during military exercises in Pocheon, injuring 15 people and damaging homes and a church, according to the Air Force and fire agency. The fire agency confirmed two individuals sustained serious injuries.
Pocheon, located 40 kilometers northeast of Seoul near the heavily militarized North Korean border, was rocked by sudden explosions. Resident Oh Moung-su, 65, described the devastation, noting multiple homes were halved by the blasts, and injured individuals struggled to escape from vehicles.
A police officer was seen patrolling the cordoned-off area near the destruction. The Air Force reported that two KF-16 jets mistakenly released eight 225-kilogram Mk82 bombs outside the designated shooting range during joint live-fire drills. A military official stated the incident resulted from a pilot entering incorrect coordinates.
In response, authorities suspended live-fire exercises pending an investigation but affirmed that major South Korean-U.S. military drills set for Monday would proceed as planned.
Residents, long concerned about the risks posed by nearby military training grounds, expressed outrage. Images from the scene depicted collapsed homes, shattered windows, and a debris-covered church. Surveillance footage captured the moment a pickup truck was engulfed in a massive explosion.
Pocheon’s mayor, Baeck Young-hyeun, called the incident “unthinkable” and urged the government to implement safety measures to prevent future tragedies. The defense ministry previously announced the Freedom Shield drills, set for March 10-20, would integrate lessons from global conflicts and North Korea’s growing ties with Russia.
U.S. Forces Korea spokesperson Ryan Donald emphasized that planners continuously adapt exercises to evolving threats. This year’s joint drills will include 70 combined field training sessions, according to the Seoul Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Source: Swifteradio.com
