A South Korean fighter jet mistakenly dropped live bombs on a civilian area during a joint military drill with the US. on Thursday, injuring at least 15 people and damaging multiple buildings, including a Catholic church.
The MK-82 bombs, intended for a designated firing range, were “abnormally” released by a KF-16 fighter jet, the South Korean air force said. The incident took place in Pocheon, a city near the tense border with North Korea.
Reports indicate at least seven buildings sustained damage, including three houses and a greenhouse. Among the injured, two suffered serious but non-life-threatening wounds.
Pocheon’s mayor, Paek Young-hyun, slammed the incident as “awful” and demanded an immediate halt to military drills in the area until stronger safety measures are in place. The city, home to 140,000 people, provides three major firing ranges for the South Korean and US militaries.
In response, the military has suspended all live-fire drills across South Korea. The air force apologized and pledged a full investigation to determine what went wrong. Experts suggest drills will resume only after authorities establish stricter safeguards to prevent similar mishaps.
