South Korea's Air Force has confirmed that one of its fighter jets accidentally released eight bombs outside of the designated firing range during a training exercise on Thursday, leading to civilian casualties.

The incident occurred around 10:00 AM (0100 GMT) in Pocheon, approximately 25 kilometers (16 miles) south of the border with North Korea. The bombs, MK-82 general-purpose devices, were mistakenly dropped from an Air Force KF-16 aircraft.

"We deeply regret the unintended release of the bombs, which resulted in civilian casualties, and wish those injured a swift recovery," the Air Force stated, adding that an accident response committee has been established to investigate the incident. The military vowed to take all necessary measures, including compensation for the damages.

The Air Force explained that the jet was participating in a joint live-fire exercise with South Korea’s Army at the time of the accident. The exercise, involving both South Korean and US forces, was taking place in Pocheon, which is located in close proximity to the heavily fortified border with North Korea.

South Korea's National Fire Agency reported that the bombs likely fell on a village during the joint exercise, causing significant damage and casualties. Four people were seriously injured, while three others sustained minor injuries. In addition to the injuries, a church building and sections of two homes were damaged. Many residents were displaced due to the explosion.

Local resident Park described the scene, saying, "I suddenly heard an enormous explosion, like a thunderclap, and the whole house shook. When I went outside, everything was in chaos."

The blast was felt even at a senior center a kilometer away, where it shattered windows and injured a teacher. Fortunately, no seniors were harmed, though the shock left them frightened, leading to their early release.

The accident comes ahead of the joint South Korea-US "Freedom Shield" military exercises, which are among the largest annual exercises between the two allies. Despite ongoing tensions, the two Koreas remain technically at war since the 1950-1953 conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.

In a similar incident in 2022, a South Korean missile accidentally crashed into a military golf course, though no injuries occurred.