Accidental Bomb Drop Injures 15 in South Korea During Military Drill

Fifteen people were injured, including two seriously, after South Korean fighter jets unintentionally dropped bombs in a civilian district during a military exercise.

In a shocking incident on Thursday, fifteen individuals were injured, two of whom sustained serious injuries, after two South Korean KF-16 fighter jets accidentally released eight MK-82 bombs over a civilian area in Pocheon, which is located near the border with North Korea. The military exercise aimed to maintain combat readiness amid rising tensions with the North.

The South Korean Air Force has publicly acknowledged the grave error, stating it is currently investigating the incident and has promised to provide compensation to those affected. Typically, while live-fire shelling exercises are conducted near residential areas, injuries like this are rare. Unfortunately, this incident caused significant distress, with reports indicating some victims suffered fractures to their necks and shoulders.

Witnesses described the chaos that ensued as one resident recounted hearing a loud explosion while driving and waking up in an ambulance with shrapnel lodged in their neck. Local media reported that the mishap resulted from a pilot mistakenly entering the wrong coordinates, leading to the bombs landing outside the designated firing range.

Damage assessments indicate that a church and several nearby homes were affected, with images showing broken windows and roofs. One local described feeling their house shake like a thunderclap during the explosion, and staff at a nearby senior citizen care center quickly evacuated residents after windows shattered, leaving them frightened but unharmed.

Responding to the situation, Pocheon authorities evacuated residents while a bomb disposal team assessed potential unexploded ordnance; however, they later confirmed that no unexploded bombs were found. The Defense Ministry noted that the exercise was part of joint drills with US forces, with further combined operations scheduled to take place in the coming days amid concerns over North Korea's growing alliance with Russia.

This incident echoes a previous drill in 2022, where a malfunctioning missile caused panic after landing on a golf course near a military base. As the investigation unfolds, South Korea's Air Force faces scrutiny over the safety measures in place during such high-stakes military operations.