Seoul, South Korea — South Korea has temporarily halted the training flights of its air force and all live-fire drills after an unfortunate incident in which fighter jets accidentally bombed a civilian area, officials reported on Friday. This decision could impact the upcoming joint military training exercise with the United States.
On Thursday, two South Korean KF-16 fighter jets mistakenly dropped four MK-82 bombs each on a civilian area in Pocheon, a city close to the tense North Korean border. This incident injured nearly 30 people, with two suffering serious injuries. It occurred during a live-fire drill tied to the Freedom Shield exercise, set to begin on Monday.
This year’s Freedom Shield exercise is significant as it marks the first major joint training since President Trump returned to office in January and comes amid worries about North Korea’s growing military ties with Russia.
Details of the exercises were announced on Thursday, but the news of the bombing quickly overshadowed them, causing a public outcry in South Korea. Residents and civic groups protested in Seoul, calling for a thorough investigation and measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
The South Korean and U.S. militaries have suspended all live-fire exercises nationwide. The South Korean air force has also grounded all aircraft, except for surveillance ones and those needed for emergencies. However, officials stated that they plan for the Freedom Shield training to continue as scheduled and will resume live-fire exercises once they determine the cause of the bombing and implement safety measures.
Experts suggest that if the training does not resume by Monday, it could disrupt the beginning stages of the Freedom Shield exercise. Lee Illwoo from the Korea Defense Network highlighted that halting flight training could impede efforts to assess the joint operational plans of the U.S. and South Korean forces. Understanding their capabilities and the flow of reinforcements is crucial during these exercises.
Initial investigations revealed that one of the pilots incorrectly entered the coordinates for the bombing site. Both pilots had significant flight hours but had only been flying KF-16s for two to three years.
The U.S. military in South Korea confirmed that American personnel were participating in the live-fire drills but clarified that no U.S. aircraft were involved in the bombing. They stated, “We take this incident very seriously,” and pledged to cooperate closely with South Korea’s Ministry of Defense for a comprehensive investigation.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of heightened tensions with North Korea, which has ramped up its negative rhetoric toward the U.S. and South Korea, viewing their joint exercises as rehearsals for invasion. North Korea’s state media warned that, in response to these drills, “the U.S. and South Korea will have to pay dearly for their stupid and reckless war drills.”
As for future military cooperation, some observers worry that President Trump might reduce U.S.-South Korean drills, given his past criticism about their costs and previous cancellations. However, Lee believes Trump understands the strategic importance of South Korea within America’s Indo-Pacific and China policies and will likely maintain, if not increase, these military exercises.
This year’s Freedom Shield includes more advanced training exercises compared to last year, featuring 16 brigade-level trainings, up from 10, marking a significant escalation in military preparedness.
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