South Korea air force jet accidentally drops bombs, injures civilians

South Korea’s Air Force reported that a KF-16 fighter jet accidentally dropped eight bombs outside the designated training area during an exercise, causing civilian injuries. The incident happened in Pocheon, near the North Korean border.

The military expressed regret over the accident, which resulted in property damage and displaced residents. Four people were seriously injured, while three suffered minor injuries. A church and two houses were also damaged.

The Air Force launched an investigation and promised compensation. The mishap occurred during a joint live-fire exercise with the Army, and South Korea was also conducting drills with the U.S. at the time.

Local residents described a massive explosion that shook buildings and shattered windows. A senior center about a kilometer away also felt the blast, causing panic among the elderly.

The incident comes ahead of the annual South Korea-U.S. "Freedom Shield" military exercises. The two Koreas remain in a technical state of war, with the U.S. maintaining a strong military presence in South Korea.

This is not the first such accident; in 2022, a South Korean ballistic missile misfired and crashed on a military golf course without causing injuries.