South Korean KF-16 Fighter Accidentally Drops 8 Bombs on a Village Close to Korean Demilitarized Zone

At least 15 people were injured in Pocheon, South Korea, on Thursday after a fighter jet accidentally released eight bombs during joint military drills with the United States, officials said.

The incident occurred around 10 a.m. local time when a South Korean Air Force KF-16 dropped eight 500-pound MK-82 bombs outside the designated firing range. The bombs were dropped on the Town of Dong-myeon in the Gyeonggi Province of South Korea, less than 12 Miles from the (DMZ) and Border with North Korea.

The training was linked to the upcoming Freedom Shield exercise, an annual U.S.-South Korea military drill scheduled to start on March 10.

Among the injured, two civilians sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries, while the rest, including two soldiers and two foreign nationals, had minor wounds. Fire officials were quoted as saying by media reports that eight buildings were damaged, including a military chapel, five houses, a warehouse, and a greenhouse.

Photographs from the site showed shattered windows and debris scattered across the affected area. Authorities evacuated residents and launched a search for any unexploded bombs.

Pocheon Mayor Baek Young-hyun demanded the suspension of all military training in the area, calling the incident a "horrific accident." South Korea’s governing People Power Party called for a thorough investigation, support for victims, and enhanced safety measures.

The South Korean Air Force apologized, stating it would investigate the cause of the accidental bomb release and provide compensation. U.S. Forces Korea referred all inquiries to the South Korean military.

The Freedom Shield exercise, running until March 20, aims to strengthen the U.S.-South Korea defense posture amid increased tensions with North Korea. This year’s drills will incorporate lessons from recent conflicts and address growing ties between North Korea and Russia.

Accidental Military Bombings Globally:

• Russia (2023): A Russian Su-34 fighter accidentally dropped a bomb on Belgorod, injuring three people and creating a large crater near the Ukrainian border.
• Nigeria (2017): A Nigerian Air Force strike mistakenly hit a refugee camp in Rann, Borno State, killing over 100 people, including six Red Cross aid workers.
• Afghanistan (2015): A U.S. AC-130 gunship mistakenly bombed a Médecins Sans Frontières hospital in Kunduz, killing more than 35 people. The strike was intended to target Taliban fighters but hit the medical facility due to target identification errors.
• Pakistan (2014): Pakistani fighter jets accidentally struck a civilian area in the Khyber tribal region during an anti-terror operation, killing at least 35 people. The military later acknowledged the mistake.
• United States (1958–1968): The U.S. lost at least three nuclear bombs that have never been located. According to the BBC, one undetonated thermonuclear bomb lies at the bottom of the Philippine Sea and is believed to be 70 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb.
• Broken Arrow Incidents (Since 1950): The U.S. has reportedly experienced over two dozen "Broken Arrow" incidents involving accidental launch, theft, detonation, or loss of nuclear weapons. Only three cases have been documented.