Rescue members work at a bomb accident web site the place a South Korean fighter jet by accident dropped bombs on a civilian space throughout coaching, in Pocheon, South Korea, Thursday, March 6, 2025. (Yonhap through AP)
//Yonhap through AP
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//Yonhap through AP
SEOUL, South Korea — Two South Korean fighter jets by accident dropped eight bombs on a civilian space throughout a joint live-fire train with the U.S. army on Thursday, injuring eight individuals, officers stated.
The MK-82 bombs launched by the KF-16 fighter jets fell outdoors a firing vary, the air drive stated in an announcement. It apologized and expressed hopes for a speedy restoration of the injured and stated it could supply compensation and take different crucial steps.
The air drive stated the fighter jets have been collaborating within the one-day firing drill with the U.S. army in Pocheon, a metropolis near the closely armed border with North Korea.
The air drive additionally stated a committee would examine the accident and study the dimensions of the harm inflicted.
An unidentified air drive official instructed native reporters {that a} pilot of one of many KF-16s had entered mistaken coordinates for a bombing web site. An unidentified Protection Ministry official instructed reporters that additional investigation was wanted to find out why the second KF-16 additionally dropped bombs on a civilian space.
In a televised briefing, Pocheon Mayor Paek Younger Hyeun known as the bombings “awful” and urged the army to halt drills within the metropolis till it formulates dependable steps that may stop a recurrence. He stated that Pocheon, a metropolis of 140,000 individuals, offers three main firing ranges for the South Korean and U.S. militaries.
Park Seong-sook, a 70-year-old eyewitness who was not damage within the bombing, stated she thought “a war has broken out.”
“It was such a loud sound,” she stated, including that it left her trembling with worry.
The army stated later Thursday it has determined to droop all live-fire drills throughout South Korea.
The accident got here simply earlier than the South Korean and U.S. militaries introduced they are going to start large-scale annual army drills subsequent Monday.
It is unclear how lengthy the suspension of the live-fire coaching would final, however observers stated it could doubtless be till the army determines the reason for Thursday’s accident and maps out preventative steps.
Pocheon’s catastrophe response division stated six civilians and two troopers have been injured and have been being handled at hospitals. 4 of the injured — all civilians — have been in severe situation, the division stated. Two of the significantly injured are foreigners, one from Thailand and the opposite from Myanmar.
Three homes, a Catholic church and a greenhouse have been partially broken however they didn’t seem to have been straight hit by the bombs, in accordance with the division.
