IRIA News

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A military exercise meant to showcase South Korea’s combat readiness took a disastrous turn on March 6, 2025, when two fighter jets accidentally bombed civilian areas, injuring at least 29 people and destroying multiple buildings.

According to the South Korean Air Force, two KF-16 fighter jets “abnormally dropped” eight MK-82 general-purpose bombs outside their designated target zone at approximately 10:07 a.m. local time. The bombs landed in Pocheon city, striking homes, a church, and a truck. “The scene of the incident is chaotic, resembling a battlefield,” Pocheon Mayor Baek Young-hyun said in a televised statement.

A total of two KF-16 fighters were flying alongside F-35A, F-15K, and FA-50 fighters. The KF-16 fighters were armed with four bombs each, and both dropped the explosives on the wrong location.

The MK-82 bomb, weighing around 230 kilograms, is used to destroy buildings or bridges and can leave a crater 2.4 meters deep and 8 meters wide. The kill range of the ordinance is one-third of an average football field, or about 2,400 square meters. The shrapnel of the bomb reached around a 1.2-kilometer radius in open land.  

Two South Korean KF-16 fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs on a village during training exercise, injuring 15 peoplepic.twitter.com/32bo3oV2GV

— IRIA (@IRIA_Research) March 6, 2025

Initial findings from South Korea’s defense ministry suggest the accident was caused by a pilot entering incorrect bombing coordinates. However, officials have not ruled out the possibility of an electronic malfunction. Soon after the incident, the Air Force and local fire department carried out an extensive search operation and reported that there were no remaining unexploded bombs left in the area.

Images from local media showed thick smoke rising from the affected area as emergency responders rushed to aid the wounded. Among the 29 injured, 14 were South Korean soldiers, and 15 were civilians. Authorities confirmed that two civilians sustained serious injuries.

The air force issued an apology, stating that the “abnormal bomb release has caused civilian damage” and expressing wishes for a speedy recovery for the injured. They also confirmed that they would compensate victims for the destruction caused.

Drills turn into disaster

The bombing occurred during a joint live-fire drill between South Korea and the United States, part of the annual Freedom Shield exercises aimed at strengthening the two nations’ military alliance.

However, the U.S. military was quick to distance itself from the incident. A United States Forces Korea (USFK) spokesperson said in a statement that no U.S. Air Force aircraft were involved in the exercise. While all live-fire training has been suspended pending an investigation, other planned military exercises will continue.

South Korea’s military has launched an accident response team to probe the incident, with investigators working to determine whether human error or mechanical failure caused the bombs to drop outside the designated range.

North Korea reacts

The timing of the incident could not be worse for Seoul, as the Freedom Shield drills have already heightened tensions with North Korea. Pyongyang has long opposed these joint exercises between the U.S. and South Korean forces, viewing them as preparations for an invasion.

Following the bombing incident, North Korean authorities issued a statement, accusing the U.S. and South Korea of “infringing on its sovereignty and security interests” and warning that they would “pay a severe price.”

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has repeatedly condemned such drills, often responding with missile tests and fiery rhetoric. Just last year, when U.S. strategic bombers participated in a joint air exercise with South Korea, North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile in response.

Major embarrassment for South Korea’s military

This accidental bombing was an alarming mistake that raised serious concerns about South Korea’s military readiness and safety protocols.

The incident has fueled criticism from both domestic and international observers, especially at a time when the country is seeking to present itself as a strong, reliable military power in the face of growing regional threats.

With tensions high and North Korea seizing the opportunity to lash out, South Korean officials now face mounting pressure to restore confidence in their military operations and to ensure that such a blunder never happens again.