During a military exercise, two South Korean F-16s accidentally dropped eight 225 kg bombs on the city of Pocheon, causing 15 injuries and significant material damage.
On March 6, 2025, during a joint military exercise with US forces, two KF-16 fighters of the South Korean air force accidentally dropped eight 225 kg MK-82 bombs on the city of Pocheon, located about 40 km north of Seoul and 32 km from the North Korean border. The incident caused 15 injuries, two of them serious, and significant destruction of civilian buildings. An investigation is under way to determine the precise causes of this accident, which raises questions about the safety of military exercises in populated areas.
Details of the incident
On March 6, 2025, at 10:04 a.m. local time, two KF-16 fighters of the South Korean air force took part in a live-fire exercise with American forces. These aircraft were to drop 225 kg MK-82 bombs on the Seungjin firing range, located near Pocheon. However, due to an error in the entry of coordinates by one of the pilots, the bombs were dropped on a civilian area of the city of Pocheon.
MK-82 bombs are unguided munitions designed to destroy infrastructure such as roads, buildings and bridges. They can create craters 8 meters in diameter and 2.5 meters deep.
Human and material consequences
The accident resulted in injuries to 15 people, two of whom are in a serious condition with fractures to the neck and shoulders. Among the injured are five South Korean soldiers.
The explosions caused significant damage, destroying or damaging several buildings, including houses and a Catholic church. Civilian infrastructure, such as water pipes, was also affected, causing leaks and complicating rescue operations.
Official reactions and measures taken
The South Korean air force has expressed its deep regret for this incident and has announced the opening of an inquiry to determine the exact causes. It has promised to compensate the victims and repair the material damage.
The mayor of Pocheon, Baek Young-hyun, described the affected area as a “battlefield” and called for an immediate halt to all military exercises in the region until enhanced safety measures are put in place.
Similar incidents in military history
Errors during military exercises are not unprecedented. For example, in 1944, Operation Tiger, a rehearsal of the Normandy landings, resulted in the deaths of 946 American soldiers due to a surprise attack by German speedboats and organizational failures.
In 1954, the Soviet Union conducted the nuclear exercise Totskoy, deliberately exposing more than 45,000 soldiers to radiation during a 40-kiloton atomic explosion, twice the power of the Hiroshima bomb.
More recently, in 1999, NATO bombings of Yugoslavia caused the deaths of many civilians, particularly during the attack on RTS (Radio-television of Serbia) in Belgrade, where 16 members of staff were killed.
Potential consequences for international relations
This incident comes at a sensitive time, with South Korea and the United States planning joint military exercises, called Freedom Shield, from March 10 to 20, 2025. These maneuvers aim to strengthen preparedness against North Korean threats. However, such accidents could be exploited by North Korea to criticize the exercises and increase tensions on the Korean peninsula.
In addition, this event could affect the public perception of military exercises in South Korea, putting increased pressure on the government to review the security protocols and planning of these maneuvers.
Ongoing investigation and future measures
The South Korean authorities have temporarily suspended live-fire exercises in the Pocheon region and set up a commission of inquiry headed by Lieutenant General Park Ki-wan to analyze the causes of the accident.
The initial findings of the inquiry indicate that the error was due to one of the pilots entering the target coordinates incorrectly. The investigators are also trying to understand why the second plane dropped its bombs on the same area, despite the apparent error.
The results of this investigation could lead to a review of safety protocols during military exercises, particularly with regard to the verification of target coordinates and confirmation procedures before any munitions are dropped.
Outlook and recommendations to avoid future incidents
The accident in Pocheon highlights several shortcomings in the management of military exercises. Several measures can be put in place to prevent this type of error from happening again:
- Improvement of targeting procedures: pilots should be subject to stricter verification protocols, including confirmation by a second operator before the release of munitions.
Increased use of advanced guidance systems: the MK-82 bombs dropped were unguided bombs. The systematic adoption of GPS or laser-guided munitions, such as JDAMs (Joint Direct Attack Munition), would considerably reduce the risk of targeting errors.
Training on simulators: before carrying out live-fire exercises, pilots could be required to repeat their maneuvers on an advanced flight simulator. This practice, common in several modern armies, would reduce the risk of human error in real conditions.
More rigorous planning of training areas: the proximity of civilian areas to military firing ranges poses an obvious safety issue. Consideration could be given to moving these exercises to less populated areas or to widening the security perimeters. - Strengthened coordination with local authorities: civilian officials must be better informed of risky military exercises, and more effective alert protocols must be put in place to react quickly in the event of an incident.
Geopolitical impact and communication of the South Korean government
The accident occurred in an already sensitive geopolitical context, with growing tensions between South Korea, North Korea and Russia.
- North Korea exploiting the incident
North Korean propaganda could use this accident to criticize the joint military exercises with the United States and denounce an irresponsible South Korean “provocation.” Pyongyang regularly criticizes the military maneuvers of Seoul and Washington, calling them preparations for an invasion. - Relations with the United States
The incident could lead to a review of the protocols for joint exercises to ensure that such mistakes do not affect bilateral relations. Washington could demand stricter control measures to avoid similar incidents in the future. - Reputation of the South Korean government
The event also risks weakening the South Korean population’s confidence in its army. The government will have to react firmly, in particular by quickly offering compensation to the victims and communicating transparently about the causes of the accident.
Previous military incidents in South Korea and the lessons learned
South Korea has already experienced several incidents during military exercises:
- 2022: a South Korean ballistic missile crashed into a military base during a joint exercise with the United States. The missile did not explode, but the accident caused great concern among the local population.
- 2004: an F-5B fighter of the South Korean army accidentally dropped a practice bomb on the town of Boryeong, 137 km south of Seoul. The incident did not cause any casualties but raised questions about the safety of air exercises.
- 2010: a North Korean bombardment on Yeonpyeong Island resulted in four deaths on the South Korean side. This event highlighted the vulnerability of certain areas to military accidents and enemy attacks.
War Wings Daily is an independant magazine.