South Korea’s air force has admitted to accidentally dropping eight bombs in the wrong place during a training exercise, resulting in civilian injuries. The incident occurred in Pocheon, about 25km south of the border with North Korea. The air force expressed regret for the unintentional release of the bombs and established an accident response committee to investigate the incident. They have also promised to take necessary measures, including compensation for damages.
The military jet involved was participating in a joint live-fire exercise with the South Korean army. The bombs were presumed to have fallen on a village during a South Korea-US joint exercise, causing casualties, property damage, and displacing residents. Four people were seriously injured, while three suffered minor injuries. One church building and parts of two houses were damaged.
This incident comes as joint South Korea-US military exercises, known as “Freedom Shield”, are set to begin later this month. The two Koreas remain technically at war since the Korean War ended without a peace treaty in 1953. The US has stationed thousands of soldiers in South Korea to protect Seoul from North Korean threats.
The air force’s accidental dropping of bombs in a civilian area highlights the risks associated with military training exercises near populated areas and underscores the need for thorough safety precautions to prevent such incidents in the future.
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