TAIPEI, Taiwan – Two South Korean jets accidentally dropped bombs in a civilian area on Thursday, injuring at least eight people and causing extensive damage during a live-fire exercise with U.S. forces near the border with North Korea.
The two South Korean KF-16 fighter jets, both carrying four MK-82 bombs, dropped them outside the designated firing range, leading to unintended explosions in a civilian area, the South Korea’s air force said.
“We deeply apologize for the civilian casualties caused by this accidental bomb release and wish the injured a swift recovery,” said the air force in a release. “We will take all necessary measures, including compensation for damages.”
The United States and South Korea on Thursday held combined live-fire drills near the city of Pocheon, just 25 kilometers (16 miles) south of the border to the North, in a show of firepower aimed at North Korea ahead of the allies’ annual springtime exercise this month.
Fire service authorities said two of the eight injured people were seriously hurt, with some suffering fractures to the neck and shoulders.
The explosion also caused extensive property damage, with two homes destroyed, they said.
The MK-82 bomb, commonly used for destroying buildings and bridges, creates an explosion crater approximately 8 meters in diameter and 2.4 meters deep, with a lethal radius comparable to the size of a football field.
Unlike guided munitions, the MK-82 is an unguided bomb, meaning it is manually released by the pilot under the guidance of ground personnel. The aircraft’s computer system calculates altitude, speed, and trajectory to estimate the bomb’s impact point.
An unintended release, or abnormal drop, can occur due to errors involving ground control, pilot operation, aircraft computer performance, or the bomb’s attachment system.
Investigators are working to determine the exact cause of the malfunction.
Thursday’s joint exercise mobilized more than 160 pieces of military hardware, including K2 tanks, K55A1 self-propelled howitzers, Apache attack helicopters and F-35A stealth jets, according to the South Korean military.
The drills began with U.S. and South Korean drones conducting reconnaissance missions against simulated threats and directing artillery firing before mechanized infantry troops and tanks moved in to secure target areas.
North Korea has consistently condemned the joint military exercises, describing them as invasion rehearsals, while South Korea and the U.S. emphasize that the drills are defensive in nature.
Edited by Mike Firn.
