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2025 Pocheon bombing

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2025 Pocheon bombing
A CCTV still of an explosion after the bombs were dropped
LocationPocheon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea[1]
Date6 March 2025 (2025-03-06)
10:04 KST (UTC+09)
Attack type
Negligent aerial bombing
Injured29 civilians, 14 soldiers

On 6 March 2025, two South Korean Air Force KF-16 jets negligently dropped a total of eight Mark 82 bombs on a civilian-populated area in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, injuring 43 people, close to a bombing range.[2][3][4][5] The incident occurred during a joint drill that took place between South Korea and the United States.[6][7]

Bombing

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Three KF-16s of the South Korean Air Force, similar to the two aircraft involved, release bombs as part of an exercise in 2012

The bombing took place at 10:04 KST. According to the South Korean military, a KF-16 pilot entered incorrect coordinates before releasing Mark 82 bombs on a civilian-populated area. A second jet later also dropped its bombs; the cause is being investigated. A total of eight Mark 82 bombs were dropped.[7]

Reports stated 43 people were injured, including two seriously. Seven civilians were still in hospital six days later.[2][3] 163 buildings, including a church, and three vehicles were badly damaged.[8][7][9]

The live-fire exercise at the Seungjin Science and Technology Training Center,[10] involving about 500 troops and over 150 pieces of military equipment, was preparatory to the forthcoming annual 11-day non-stop Freedom Shield joint exercise on 10 to 20 March.[11][12]

Air force officials stated there should have been three target verification steps, when pre-loading the coordinates from a storage device into the KF-16, during the flight, and finally visually confirming the target.[10]

Aftermath

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After the bombing, residents of Pocheon were evacuated as bomb disposal teams searched for unexploded ordnance. The South Korean military said that live fire exercises were suspended in the aftermath of the bombing. The South Korean Air Force said they were investigating the incident and that they would compensate its victims.[7][8] The suspension was partially lifted on 18 March.[13]

On 11 March 2025, two senior air force officers, a colonel and a lieutenant colonel, were dismissed by the Republic of Korea Air Force for breaching their legal duties and poorly overseeing safety details. The interim investigation showed that an airman mistyped the coordinates and omitted the first verification procedure, allegedly following a printer error. Later a pilot incorrectly reported that he saw the target location at a time when he could not have seen it.[2][3]

On 13 March 2025, the Ministry of National Defense charged two pilots with occupational negligence for dropping the bombs at the incorrect location.[3] The said pilots were issued with a one-year suspension by the Air Force on 21 March 2025.[14]

Reactions

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For many years residents have protested about the disturbance and danger from the nearby training grounds,[11] and on the day following the incident residents and activists held a rally outside the main Ministry of National Defense building to demand a halt to military drills that threaten residents' lives.[9]

In North Korea, the Korean Central News Agency made reference to the bombing in its criticism of joint military drills by South Korea and the United States on 12 March.[15]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Sang-Hun, Choe (6 March 2025). "South Korean Fighter Jets Mistakenly Bomb Village, Leaving 7 Injured". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Lee, Soo-Jung (11 March 2025). "2 senior Air Force officials dismissed over Pocheon bombing". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 11 March 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d Lee, Soo-Jung (13 March 2025). "Two pilots booked over Pocheon bombing accident which left 43 injured". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  4. ^ "South Korean fighter jets drop bombs in the wrong place, injuring 8 people". NPR. Associated Press. 6 March 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  5. ^ Seo, Yoonjung (6 March 2025). "South Korean fighter jets accidentally bomb homes, injuring 15 civilians". CNN. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  6. ^ Park, Ju-min; Yim, Hyunsu (6 March 2025). "South Korea air force jets accidentally drop bombs on homes, injuring 15". Reuters. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d Kwon, Jake; Lee, Hosu; Ewe, Koh (6 March 2025). "Fifteen hurt after SK fighter jets drop bombs by accident". BBC News. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  8. ^ a b Ryall, Julian (6 March 2025). "South Korean fighter jet mistakenly bombs town near Seoul". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 6 March 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  9. ^ a b "South Korea says number injured in fighter jet misfire rises to 29". Reuters. 7 March 2025. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
  10. ^ a b Charpentreau, Clément (6 March 2025). "Pilot targeting mistake suspected in South Korean fighter jets village bombing". AeroTime. Archived from the original on 6 March 2025. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
  11. ^ a b Ju-Min Park; Yim, Hyunsu (7 March 2025). "South Korea air force jets accidentally drop bombs on homes, injuring 15". Reuters. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
  12. ^ Lee, Hyo-jin (8 March 2025). "S. Korea, US to stage 1st major joint military drills under Trump 2.0". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 6 March 2025. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
  13. ^ "Military partially resumes live-fire drills after accidental fighter jet bombing". The Korea Times. 18 March 2025. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  14. ^ Kim, Seung-yeon (21 March 2025). "2 Air Force pilots suspended from air duty for 1 yr after accidental bombing of civilian area". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  15. ^ Kim, Soo-yeon (12 March 2025). "N. Korea slams Seoul-Washington joint military drills, citing S. Korean accidental jet bombing". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 12 March 2025.

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