Police officers look around a house in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, Friday, which was damaged by bombs that accidentally fell from a fighter jet during a South Korea-U.S. joint live-fire exercise the previous day. Yonhap
An unprecedented bombing mistake involving an Air Force fighter jet has prompted the South Korean and U.S. militaries to suspend live-fire drills, raising concerns that it could impact the upcoming Freedom Shield joint exercise, which is designed to strengthen the combined deterrence of the allies against North Korean threats.
The bombing error during a joint training exercise the day before, which caused more than a dozen civilian injuries, has led the South Korean military to halt all live-fire drills — not just for aircraft, but also for ground operations and nonessential aircraft activities.
The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Friday that it will suspend live-fire training exercises until further notice.
"The U.S. and ROK militaries have agreed to pause all live-fire training until further notice. Despite this pause, the planned command post exercise, Freedom Shield 25, will proceed as scheduled," said USFK spokesperson Col. Ryan Donald. ROK stands for Republic of Korea, South Korea's official name.
"The safety of the local community, U.S. and ROK personnel is our top priority. We take this incident very seriously," Donald said, noting that the USFK is coordinating closely with South Korean defense officials for a thorough and transparent investigation.
The spokesperson clarified that no U.S. aircraft participated in the joint live-fire exercise on Thursday, which took place in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province.
During the drills, two KF-16 fighter jets mistakenly dropped eight MK-82 air-to-surface bombs outside the designated training range, injuring 29 people in a nearby village and damaging a church and several houses. Two people were severely injured. Initially, 15 people were affected, with an additional 14 cases reported on Friday, all suffering from headaches and tinnitus in the aftermath.
Air-to-surface bombs strike targets during a South Korea-U.S. military drill in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday. Joint Press Corps
The MK-82 bomb, used to destroy buildings and bridges, has an explosive radius of approximately 2,400 square meters.
Military officials pointed to pilot error as the primary cause of the accident following an initial investigation, stating that one of the pilots had incorrectly entered the strike target coordinates before takeoff.
It is highly rare, if not unprecedented, for a fighter jet training error to result in civilian damage, according to the Air Force.
The fallout from the bombing is expected to disrupt the South Korea-U.S. annual Freedom Shield training exercise. Thursday's live-fire drills in Pocheon were intended as a preparatory exercise ahead of the main Freedom Shield exercise.
This year's drills, involving 19,000 troops, focus on enhancing the combined capabilities of the allies to deter North Korea's growing nuclear threats. It is also the first exercise held under U.S. President Donald Trump's second term.
The exercises include 16 on-field drills, up from 10 in 2024, reflecting efforts to enhance combined deterrence capabilities. These field drills will proceed without live-fire training, according to the defense ministry.
A military officer, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said, "Live-fire drills are meant to help simulate real combat scenarios. Without them, troops may not experience the full intensity of real battlefield conditions."
In addition to the suspension of live-fire drills, the Air Force has temporarily halted nonessential aircraft operations and stepped up safety training for pilots.
According to military sources, flight restrictions now apply to all aircraft, including the KF-16 involved in the incident, except for essential missions such as surveillance, reconnaissance and emergency operations.
Acting Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho, second from left, visits a village in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, affected by the bombs that accidentally fell during a military training exercise, Thursday. Joint Press Corps
Acting Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho issued an apology to affected residents and vowed a thorough probe to prevent a reoccurrence. The ministry said Friday that it set up a response team for a detailed probe and is discussing compensation measures.
Around 150 troops were deployed to the village to support the affected residents later that day.
"It will take some time to complete the investigation, but we will do our best to conduct a swift probe and announce preliminary results by next Monday," a ministry official said.
These efforts come as the military faces criticism for its delayed handling of the accident.
While the bomb struck the town at approximately 10:08 a.m., according to local fire authorities, the military continued with the planned training. After a brief pause following the misfire by the KF-16 squadron, three F-15K jets proceeded to drop MK-84 bombs.
Firefighters and police officers arrived at the scene, but the military did not inform the media until around 11:40 a.m. through a text message.
Regarding the delayed response, Air Force officials explained, "We prioritized accuracy over speed in reporting," adding, "Since this was a joint exercise, it was necessary to verify whether the shell was ours."
The bombing has sparked backlash from residents in Pocheon, a northern city near the Demilitarized Zone that separates the two Koreas. Residents have long expressed concerns over the noise and risks associated with frequent military drills in the area.
Pocheon Mayor Baek Young-hyun demanded a full suspension of all military exercises in the region until the situation is resolved. He also called on the military to swiftly come up with compensation measures for affected residents.