Anchor: Fifteen civilians were injured Thursday after Air Force fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs on a village in northern Gyeonggi Province during live-fire drills. The Air Force apologized and vowed to take all necessary measures, including paying compensation for damages.
Kim Bum-soo has more. 

Report: The KF-16 fighters were carrying out live-fire drills when they accidentally dropped eight 500-pound Mark-82 bombs on a rural village in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, near the inter-Korean border.

Fifteen civilians were hurt, including two seriously injured, in the unintended bombardment, which also destroyed five houses and damaged a church.

After the accident Thursday morning, the Air Force issued an apology and promised to compensate those who got hurt or suffered property damage. 

The Air Force explained that there was a mistake in designating target coordinates.

Earlier in the morning, the South Korean military publicized its plans to conduct live-fire drills with the U.S., mobilizing F-35A, F-15K, KF-16, FA-50 and other fighter jets. 

Under the plan the military revealed, the aircraft were supposed to strike mock targets with about 30 bombs. 

The Mark-82, or MK-82, bombs that fell outside the target area on Thursday are among the most common unguided air-dropped weapons and are used to destroy bridges and buildings.

The blast radius of an MK-82 bomb is about the size of a football field.

Thursday’s air drills were a prelude to the massive Freedom Shield exercise, which South Korea and the U.S. are set to begin Monday and continue through March 20. 

The military has formed a committee, led by the Air Force deputy chief of staff, to carry out more fact-finding and compensate the victims.  
Kim Bum-soo, KBS World Radio News.