A village near the North Korean border in South Korea was accidentally shelled by two fighter jets from the South’s Air Force during a joint exercise with the U.S. military. The incident left 15 people injured, with four in serious condition requiring surgery. The South Korean military stated that inaccurate coordinates led to the bombs falling closer to the village of Nogok than intended.
The South Korean Air Force has suspended all live-fire drills while an investigation is conducted. The annual joint exercises, known as Freedom Shield, had been scheduled to officially begin on Monday. Local residents described the explosion as “earthquake-like,” with windows shattered and roofs blown away in the affected area.
Photos showed a house and church damaged by the bombing, with the military offering an apology and compensation for the victims. The mayor of Pocheon demanded that military exercises in the area be halted until safety measures are improved to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The U.S. military, which has 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea, expressed regret over the accident and pledged to cooperate with the investigation. North Korea has criticized the joint exercises as preparations for war, with Kim Yo-jong, the sister and spokesperson for leader Kim Jong-un, warning of potential nuclear testing in response to the ongoing drills.
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