South Korean Fighter Planes Accidentally Bomb Village, 15 Injured

Two South Korean Air Force fighter planes accidentally dropped eight bombs on a village while participating in a joint training exercise with US forces on Thursday. The bombs, MK-82 general-purpose bombs, fell beyond the range of fire in Pocheon, a town 25 kilometers south of the North Korean border.

The jets were in a live-fire exercise when the accident occurred. The Air Force said that the pilot had made a mistake and entered the wrong coordinates, and the second plane also dropped bombs. Fifteen people, both civilians and soldiers, were injured. Some houses, including a church, were destroyed, and some residents were left homeless.

A local resident described the explosion as a “thunderclap” that shook his house. Pocheon Mayor asked all the exercises conducted by the military to be suspended until safety is improved. The South Korean government has apologized and provided compensation for the damages. The blast is under investigation.