Seoul: The defense ministry announced a partial resumption of live-fire military drills following their suspension due to an accidental fighter jet bombing earlier this month.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the suspension was prompted by an incident on March 6 when two KF-16 fighter jets mistakenly bombed a town in Pocheon, about 40 kilometers north of Seoul, injuring 38 people. This led the ministry to halt all exercises involving live ammunition. The ministry stated that live-fire drills involving rifles and smaller firearms would resume at operational units and boot camps, excluding Pocheon, after safety assessments of training grounds were completed on Friday.
The ministry further clarified that other live-fire drills involving machine guns, tanks, and artillery would resume gradually. Drills involving aircraft and those in the Pocheon area will only recommence after the Air Force implements preventative measures and the area is deemed stable.
In a separate statement, the Air Force announced the resumption of flights from an air base in Gunsan, located 176 kilometers south of Seoul, starting Wednesday after conducting necessary safety inspections. The two fighter jets involved in the accidental bombing had taken off from this base. Following the incident, all aircraft were grounded, but flights, excluding those from the air base, resumed on March 10.
An interim investigation by the Air Force revealed that pilot error was the cause of the accidental bombing, as one pilot entered incorrect target coordinates during preparations for the exercise.
On Thursday, ministry investigators charged the two pilots with professional negligence resulting in injury and damaging military facilities. The Air Force plans to review the pilots' qualifications for flight operations on Friday.