SEOUL — Fifteen people were injured in an accident in which bombs were “abnormally” dropped by a South Korean fighter jet during an exercise on Thursday, the country’s military officials said.
South Korea’s Defense Ministry confirmed that eight MK-82 bombs were dropped from an aircraft during a live-fire exercise that took place in the Nogok-ri area of Pocheon, a city that sits between Seoul and the Demilitarized Zone, the fortified border with North Korea.
South Korean Air Force F-35A fighter jets deploy flares during a joint live-fire drill in South Korea near the Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon on March 6, 2025.
YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images
A Defense Ministry official told reporters in a closed-door briefing that the accident was due to a pilot entering incorrect coordinates.
The ministry confirmed that the training is associated with the annual U.S.-South Korea joint exercises, which are known as “Freedom Shield” and are scheduled to begin March 10.
The fire department said fifteen people were injured, including two who had serious injuries. They are now being treated at a hospital, officials said.
A forensic officer walks near damaged buildings after South Korea’s Air Force said that MK-82 bombs fell from a KF-16 jet outside the shooting range during joint live-fire exercises near the demilitarized zone separating two Koreas in Pocheon, South Korea, March 6, 2025.
Kim Hong-ji/Reuters
Two residential buildings, a religious service building and a cargo truck were reportedly damage due to the accident as well.
The Korean Air Force said it is investigating the details of the accident and will do its best to compensate for the damage. All live-fire exercises in the current drill were halted until the investigation to determine the exact reason for the accident was finished.
The Freedom Shield joint drills between the U.S. and South Korea will continue as planned from March 10 to 20. The annual drill aims to maintain readiness for regional threats, such as North Korea.
“U.S. service members were participating in a combined, joint live-fire exercise with Republic of Korea Air Force and Army forces when a release of live munitions resulted in off-range damage today,” U.S. Forces Korea spokesman Col. Ryan Donald told ABC News.
“We can confirm that no U.S. Air Force aircraft were involved in the exercise. The U.S. and ROK militaries have agreed to pause all live-fire training until further notice. Despite this pause, the planned command post exercise, Freedom Shield 25, will proceed as scheduledThe U.S.-ROK Alliance remains fully committed to ensuring the safety, security, and stability of the ROK, as well as maintaining our readiness to defend both of our homelands,” Donald continued.
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