Pyongyang: North Korea has issued a stark warning, stating that a recent accidental bombing by South Korean fighter jets highlights the risk of a new armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula. The remarks were reported by North Korea’s state news agency, KCNA, on Wednesday.
The incident occurred last Thursday when two South Korean military jets, during a training exercise, mistakenly dropped eight air-to-surface bombs on a village near the heavily fortified border with North Korea. The accident injured 29 civilians, with South Korea’s military attributing it to pilot error. The site of the accident was near a training ground regularly used by South Korean and U.S. forces.
KCNA warned of the potential consequences if the bombs had fallen further north, stating, "It does not take much imagination to see how the situation could have escalated if the bombs had crossed our border."
The warning comes amid ongoing annual Freedom Shield military drills between the United States and South Korea, which began on Monday and will run until March 20. However, live-fire exercises have been temporarily suspended following the bombing incident.
North Korea routinely condemns these joint drills, viewing them as preparation for an invasion. In contrast, South Korea maintains that the exercises are defensive, designed to ensure military readiness against any threats from the North.
In its statement, KCNA described the incident as proof that U.S.-led military operations in the region are not about maintaining peace but rather provocative actions that could lead to a crisis. The agency warned of "merciless action without notice" if North Korea perceives any further threats from its adversaries.
