15 injured in South Korea after bombs accidentally hit civilian area during military training
NBC4 days ago
S.Korea to Declare Special Disaster Area in Pocheon After Accidental Bombing
Above: A building damaged after a fighter jet dropped bombs on South Korea's civilian area by accident during live-fire drills in Pocheon on March 6, 2025. Image copyright: Yao Qilin/Contributor/Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images
The Facts
South Korea's acting Pres. Choi Sang-mok on Saturday called for the area in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, affected by a recent Air Force mishap to be "quickly" declared a special disaster area to expedite efforts to support recovery and residents.
The country's defense ministry provided an update on Friday, revealing that the number of people injured in Thursday's accidental bombing by two KF-16 fighter jets — who dropped eight MK-82 bombs on a civilian area outside the designated firing range north of Seoul — had risen to 29, up from the previously reported 15.
Among those injured were 15 civilians, including six foreigners, and 14 military personnel. Two South Korean civilians sustained serious non-life-threatening injuries, and about one-third of the victims were being treated in hospital as of Friday.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
While only Korean fighter jets were involved in this accidental bombing, the US is ultimately to blame for this disaster as the country leads every war drill and war game in South Korea. It's a matter of fact that America's occupation of South Korea only harms the people that it claims to protect.
Pro-establishment narrative
It makes no sense to point fingers at the US and its alliance with South Korea when flaws in Seoul's military procedures, including the lack of cross-checking procedures, are to blame for this distressing disaster. This is the first time that a jet had misfired a bomb in the country since 2004.