South Korea's Supreme Court sided with local residents in ruling that the state should compensate those living near a U.S. military firing range for damages resulting from shooting and bombing exercises.

The Supreme Court on Sunday ordered the government to pay 14 plaintiffs in Maehyang-ri, a town on the west coast south of capital, nearly 10,000 dollars each.

The plaintiffs had filed a suit in 1998 claiming physical injury, hearing impairment and damage to homes and livestock from the U.S. warplane live-fire exercises at the nearby Koon-ni Range.

The ruling marks the first time South Korea has acknowledged responsibility for civilian damages resulting from U.S. military training.

The ruling is expected to affect a similar lawsuit by 2,200 other Maehyang-ri residents filed in 2001.