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On Thursday, South Korean military jets accidentally dropped eight bombs on a civilian area, injuring 15 individuals and causing significant damage to homes and a church in Pocheon. The incident occurred during military exercises, according to statements issued by the Air Force and local fire agencies.
The local fire agency confirmed that among the injured, two individuals sustained serious injuries. Pocheon, situated approximately 40 kilometers northeast of Seoul, is located close to the heavily fortified border with North Korea.
One resident, Oh Moung-su, recounted the chaos that unfolded: “There was a sudden loud roar of a fighter jet, then an explosion ensued. When I arrived at the scene, I saw that about four houses had been severely damaged, and people were hurt.” He described smoke rising into the night sky and water spewing from a ruptured pipe, adding that some construction workers in a vehicle were unable to escape after being caught in the explosion.
According to the Air Force, the bombs were 225-kilogram Mk82s that had been released from two KF-16 jets during joint live-fire exercises. An official revealed that the incident stemmed from a pilot entering incorrect coordinates, which led to the jets dropping four bombs each, all of which detonated.
The military expressed regret over the incident and extended wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured. “We are sorry for the damage caused by the abnormal drop accident,” the Air Force stated.
In light of the mishap, authorities announced a pause on live-fire exercises until a comprehensive investigation can identify the root causes of the error. However, this incident is not expected to impact major joint military drills planned between South Korea and the United States, starting Monday.
Local residents have long voiced concerns over potential hazards associated with nearby military training grounds. Visuals from the site depicted significant destruction, including homes with collapsed structures and debris littering the area, including churches affected by the blasts.
Security footage captured moments leading up to the explosion, showcasing a pickup truck traveling along a tree-lined street just before the area was engulfed by a massive blast.
Pocheon Mayor Baeck Young-hyeun reacted to the event by calling it an “unthinkable” occurrence, urging military and government officials to implement measures that would safeguard civilians from future incidents.
Earlier that same day, the defense ministry announced the commencement of the first joint live-fire exercises involving South Korean and U.S. forces in Pocheon, tied to annual military drills set to begin next week. The upcoming Freedom Shield drills, scheduled from March 10 to 20, are designed to enhance the readiness of the alliance in response to threats posed by North Korea, as stated by the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) in Seoul prior to the accident.
This year’s military exercises will take into account lessons from recent conflicts and reflect concerns regarding North Korea’s increasing ties with Russia, officials noted. Ryan Donald, spokesperson for the United States Forces Korea (USFK), emphasized the importance of adapting military training to global trends, stating, “Our planners look across the globe and identify the trends that are changing, and we look at how we can incorporate that into our exercises.”
Overall, approximately 70 combined field training sessions are planned as part of this year’s exercise, according to Lee Sung-jun, another spokesperson for the JCS.
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