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The accidental bombing, which injured 29, happened before large-scale joint exercises with the US.
Following the accidental bombing of Nogok-ri village, which left at least 29 people injured and caused considerable property damage, South Korean military investigators have charged two Air Force pilots with criminal negligence.
On March 6, the incident took place when two KF-16 fighter jets mistakenly dropped eight MK-82 bombs on Nogok-ri, Pocheon, close to the North Korean border, during a live-fire exercise.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the defense ministry stated on Thursday that “The Criminal Investigation Command has determined that the pilots’ incorrect entry of target coordinates directly caused the accident.” The accused pilots have been removed from flight duty, and their flight certifications are being reviewed.
At least 29 people were hurt in the bombing, including 15 civilians, with two sustaining serious injuries. The explosions, which occurred outside the designated firing range, caused significant damage to civilian properties, including five homes, a church, a warehouse, and a greenhouse.
Footage of a bomb falling on the village of Nogok in South Korea.
Latest data, 15 people, including two soldiers, were injured as a result of a mistaken bomb drop by a fighter jet of the national air force.
Before this, a bomb was dropped by mistake back in 2004.
— MissRedPillUp (@makingtrailsKY)
In response to the event, the South Korean Air Force has halted all live-fire exercises and grounded training flights pending a full investigation. The Air Force Chief of Staff has apologized and promised to examine mission procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
💥 🔗↙️ MILITARY FAILURE South Korea’s & U.S military drills accidentally dropped 8️⃣ bombs on a residential in a live-fire exercise, 15 injured & causing significant damage ..
— A Deniz Engelhardt (@DenizEngelhardt)
United States Forces Korea (USFK) stated that no US Air Force aircraft were involved in the failed live-fire exercise. However, the incident has increased concerns among local residents regarding the safety of such exercises near residential areas. Pocheon and surrounding areas are home to training facilities used by the South Korean and US militaries.
North Korea has denounced the joint exercises, claiming that these types of accidents highlight the danger of the exercises escalating into armed conflict, particularly if ordnance were to unintentionally cross into North Korean territory.
According to a commentary released on Wednesday by North Korea’s state news agency KCNA, “There is no need to explain how the situation would have developed if a bomb had been dropped towards the north a little further to cross the border of the DPRK.” It added, “It is not unreasonable to imagine that an accidental spark might plunge the Korean Peninsula, the region, and the rest of the world into a new armed conflict.”
The event occurred before the annual Freedom Shield exercises, a significant joint military exercise between South Korea and the United States, which began on March 10 and will end on March 20. While live-fire exercises have been suspended, the command post exercises have continued as scheduled. On Wednesday, they simulated an attack on a North Korean facility thought to be holding an unidentified weapon of mass destruction (WMD).