Bomb Mishap: South Korea's Joint Military Drill Sparks Tensions

South Korea and the U.S. paused live-fire training during Freedom Shield exercises after a South Korean fighter jet bombing incident injured 30 civilians. The drill has been criticized by North Korea, raising tensions in the region amid nuclear concerns. An ongoing investigation seeks to prevent future mishaps.

The annual joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States commenced on Monday but with a pause in live-fire training following a mishap. Authorities are investigating how South Korean fighter jets bombed a civilian area last week during a preliminary drill.

The incident in Pocheon, near the North Korean border, resulted in injuries to 30 people. Initial findings suggest a pilot error involving wrong coordinates being inputted, leading to the bomb drop. The South Korean air force chief has apologized, and all live-fire activities are suspended pending investigation outcomes.

The exercises, known as Freedom Shield, have been criticized by North Korea as provocations, coinciding with growing regional tensions around nuclear capabilities and strained diplomatic relations. The large-scale drills continue with heightened scrutiny and diplomatic implications.

(With inputs from agencies.)