Seven civilians were injured when artillery shells struck residential areas in Pocheon, South Korea, during a joint military exercise with the United States on Thursday. The incident occurred 40 kilometers north of Seoul, heightening concerns about civilian safety near active military zones.
Two projectiles landed on homes shortly after 10:00 a.m. local time, leaving four people with serious injuries and three with minor wounds, according to broadcaster YTN. Emergency responders swiftly evacuated residents from the blast radius amid ongoing safety checks.
The drill involved over 160 military assets, including tanks, self-propelled howitzers, and stealth jets. Analysts note this marks one of the largest live-fire exercises in the area this year. Yonhap reported both militaries are investigating whether the shells originated from their activities.
Local officials urged calm but acknowledged growing unease among border communities. 'We must balance national security priorities with civilian protection,' a Pocheon municipal spokesperson told media.
