South Korea He suspended all the training flights of his Air Force and real fire exercises after two KF-16 fighters released bombs on a civil area in Pocheon, near the border with North Korea. The incident, occurred within the framework of joint maneuvers with the United States, left almost 30 injured, two of them in serious condition.
The involuntary bombardment occurred during a real fire practice prior to the Freedom Shield exercise, the main joint military training between South Korea and the United Statesscheduled to start on Monday. This is the first big bilateral exercise since Donald Trump’s return to the US presidency.
Following the incident, both nations temporarily suspended real fire exercises throughout the country. In addition, the South Korean Air Force ordered the stoppage of all military flights, except for those destined for surveillance or emergencies.
Research and repercussions
The first inquiries indicate that the error was caused by the introduction of incorrect coordinates in the navigation system of one of the aircraft. According to military sources, the pilots involved had between 200 and 400 flight hours, which suggests a relatively limited experience in operations of this magnitude.
Colonel Ryan Donald, spokesman for the US army in South Korea, confirmed the participation of his troops in the exercises, although he assured that no US plane was involved in the incident. “We take this event with extreme seriousness and collaborate with the South Korean Ministry of Defense to carry out a transparent investigation,” he said.
Tensions climbing with North Korea
The South Korean error occurs in a context of growing tensions with North Korea, which has intensified its rhetoric against military exercises between Washington and Seoul. The North Korean state agency described the maneuvers as “military provocations” and warned that both nations “will pay expensive for their reckless actions.”
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has expressed intention to restore dialogue with Kim Jong Un, although so far has not received a Pyongyang response. In his first mandate, Trump significantly reduced the joint exercises, but analysts suggest that his position could have changed given the strategic relevance of South Korea in the Indo-Pacific.
Perspectives about Freedom Shield
Despite the suspension of some exercises, the South Korean authorities say that Freedom Shield will continue as planned. However, the lack of aerial training could affect the evaluation of joint operational plans, especially in the logistics of aerial reinforcements from the USA.
This year, the exercise will include 16 field maneuvers at the brigade level, exceeding the 10 of last year, which reaffirms the commitment of both countries with the strengthening of their cooperation in defense.
Source: Ambito
