Rescue contributors paintings at a bomb coincidence web page the place a South Korean fighter jet by chance dropped bombs on a civilian space all the way through coaching, in Pocheon, South Korea, Thursday, March 6, 2025. (Yonhap by the use of AP)
//Yonhap by the use of AP
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//Yonhap by the use of AP
SEOUL, South Korea — Two South Korean fighter jets by chance dropped 8 bombs on a civilian space all the way through a joint live-fire workout with the U.S. army on Thursday, injuring 8 other people, officers stated. The MK-82 bombs launched via the KF-16 fighter jets fell outdoor a firing vary, the air pressure stated in a commentary. It apologized and expressed hopes for a rapid restoration of the injured and stated it could be offering reimbursement and take different vital steps. The air pressure stated the fighter jets have been collaborating within the one-day firing drill with the U.S. army in Pocheon, a town just about the closely armed border with North Korea.
The air pressure additionally stated a committee would examine the coincidence and read about the size of the wear and tear inflicted. An unidentified air pressure legitimate instructed native journalists {that a} pilot of one of the most KF-16s had entered improper coordinates for a bombing web page. An unidentified Protection Ministry legitimate instructed journalists that additional investigation was once had to resolve why the second one KF-16 additionally dropped bombs on a civilian space.
In a televised briefing, Pocheon Mayor Paek Younger Hyeun known as the bombings “terrible” and suggested the army to halt drills within the town till it formulates dependable steps that may save you a recurrence. He stated that Pocheon, a town of 140,000 other people, supplies 3 main firing levels for the South Korean and U.S. militaries. Park Seong-sook, a 70-year-old eyewitness who was once no longer harm within the bombing, stated she idea “a struggle has damaged out.” “It was once the sort of loud sound,” she stated, including that it left her trembling with worry. The army stated later Thursday it has made up our minds to droop all live-fire drills throughout South Korea. The coincidence got here simply prior to the South Korean and U.S. militaries introduced they’ll start large-scale annual army drills subsequent Monday. It is unclear how lengthy the suspension of the live-fire coaching would closing, however observers stated it could most likely be till the army determines the reason for Thursday’s coincidence and maps out preventative steps.
Pocheon’s crisis reaction division stated six civilians and two squaddies have been injured and have been being handled at hospitals. 4 of the injured — all civilians — have been in critical situation, the dept stated. Two of the significantly injured are foreigners, one from Thailand and the opposite from Myanmar. 3 properties, a Catholic church and a greenhouse have been in part broken however they didn’t seem to have been at once hit via the bombs, in keeping with the dept.
