According to military authorities and the Fire Brigade, the events occurred during live-fire exercises; making it an unprecedented erroneous bombing of a civilian population in the country’s history.

The event took place over a village of Pocheon, some 40 kilometers north of Seoul, resulting in 15 injured, including two soldiers and two foreigners; it also damaged a church and seven other buildings in the locality.

Fire officials said two civilian men were seriously wounded and were taken to hospital even though injuries to their faces and shoulders were not life-threatening.

Eight other persons with minor bruises were also taken to hospitals for treatment.

Authorities expect the number of bodily harmed to rise as more people have sought treatment. Some 50 residents in the area have been evacuated to the town hall, away from the bombing site.

Army officials detailed that KF-16 fighters participating in the live-fire exercise each dropped four MK-82 bombs outside the training range in Pocheon.

jrr/jav/mem/nvo