South Korea's air force chief apologizes over last week's accidental bombing

By Aamir Latif and Berk Kutay Gokmen

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - South Korea's air force chief issued a public apology on Monday over the accidental bombing of a civilian village by fighter jets last week that injured 31 people.

According to a survey, 152 houses were damaged during the accidental bombing, the local government said on Monday.

"We plan to continue damage surveys this week, so the damage tally could change," a local government official said.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Lee Young-su said at a news briefing in the capital Seoul that it was an accident that "should never have happened," Yonhap News reported.

Two KF-16 fighter jets dropped eight MK-82 bombs outside a training range in Pocheon, some 40 kilometers (24.85 miles) north of Seoul, during live-fire drills on Thursday, injuring 31, including 19 civilians and 12 soldiers.

“The Air Force, which should protect the lives and property of the people, inflicted harm to the people," Young-su said.

"It was an accident that should never have happened, and one that should not recur," he maintained.

He also promised to compensate those affected, in addition to providing medical and crisis support.

According to the initial probe, pilot error is suspected to have caused the accidental bombing as one of the pilots of the jets entered the wrong target coordinates prior to takeoff.

The military has suspended all live-fire training until the exact cause of the accident is determined.

The central government has designated the impacted area as a special disaster zone, granting it financial aid for recovery efforts and relief funds for those affected.