Fifteen hurt after South Korean fighter jets accidentally bomb village

Fifteen people have been injured in South Korea after two of the country’s fighter pilots accidentally dropped bombs over a civilian area during training exercises.

At just after 10 am local time (2 am CET), two KF-16 planes released eight MK-82 bombs over a village near Pocheon, a town close to the country’s heavily fortified border with North Korea, the South Korean air force said.

While some of the injuries were serious, none of the victims was left in a critical condition, according to local media.

Several houses, a Catholic church and a greenhouse were partially damaged by the bombs, which did not directly hit them.

Pocheon Mayor Paek Young-hyun, who confirmed that the town hosts three military firing ranges, called the bombings “awful”.

An unnamed South Korean air force official told reporters that one of the pilots had entered the wrong bombing coordinates. The cause of the second pilot’s error is unknown.

South Korea’s air force apologised for the incident, vowing to pay compensation to the victims, to whom it wished a quick recovery.

It added that a thorough investigation would be launched into what had happened.

Soon after the bombs were dropped, the South Korean military said it was suspending all live-fire drills across the country.

It comes just days before the US and South Korea are scheduled to begin their annual joint military exercises in the country.

The "Freedom Shield" drills are designed to enhance the allies’ readiness to respond to threats from Pyongyang.