South Korea charges air force pilots with criminal negligence in accidental bombing of village

South Korean military investigators have charged two Air Force pilots with criminal negligence after a bombing accident last week injured at least 29 people and caused severe property damage in a village near the North Korean border.

According to the Defense Ministry's Criminal Investigation Command, the pilots mistakenly entered coordinates into the aircraft's systems, which was a "direct factor" in the accidental bombing.

The pilots now face charges of criminal negligence causing bodily harm, and the investigation is ongoing.

The incident occurred when two fighter jets participating in a live-fire training exercise accidentally launched eight unguided air-to-surface bombs, which struck a village in Pocheon, a region known for its military training grounds used by both South Korean and U.S. forces.

For years, local residents have complained about the safety risks and disruptions caused by military drills in the area.

The two pilots involved have been relieved of flight duties, and a review of their mission certification has been scheduled, a ministry official confirmed.

The Air Force chief of staff has apologized for the accident and promised a thorough review of mission procedures to prevent future incidents.

Meanwhile, North Korea, which frequently criticizes joint South Korean-U.S. military drills, claimed the accident demonstrates the dangers of such exercises and warned of the potential for armed conflict, arguing that the bombs could have landed north of the border.