South Korea has charged air force pilots with criminal negligence after an accidental bombing of a village

On Thursday, South Korean military investigators formally charged two Air Force pilots with criminal negligence following an accidental bombing of a village during a training exercise last week. This incident resulted in injuries to at least 29 individuals and significant property damage.

According to a statement from the ministry’s Criminal Investigation Command, the pilots’ mistakes in entering coordinates into the aircraft systems were identified as “direct factors” contributing to the accidental bombing. The pilots face charges of criminal negligence leading to bodily harm, and the investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

During live-fire exercises, eight unguided air-to-surface bombs were released from two fighter jets, landing in a village in Pocheon, located near the North Korean border. The area is home to training grounds utilized by both South Korean and U.S. military forces. Local residents have long expressed concerns regarding safety risks and disturbances caused by military operations in the vicinity.

As a result of the incident, the two pilots have been removed from flight duties, and a review of their flight mission certifications is set to take place, according to a ministry official. The Air Force chief of staff has issued an apology for the incident and committed to reassessing mission protocols to avert similar occurrences in the future. North Korea, which frequently criticizes military exercises conducted by South Korea and the U.S., has remarked that this accident highlights the dangers of such drills potentially leading to armed conflict, particularly given the risk of bombs landing across the border.