The incident occurred during a training exercise at an artillery unit near Paju on the afternoon of 10/9. Ten of the 12 soldiers present were injured. South Korean officials reported two soldiers suffered burns to their limbs, while eight others sustained burns to their hands. No fatalities or serious injuries were reported.

The exploding round was a training version, designed to produce sound and smoke to simulate combat situations. It does not contain the same high-explosive charge as a live round. The South Korean army announced it has suspended the use of this type of training round and is investigating the cause of the explosion.

Fire trucks at the gate of the artillery base near Paju, South Korea, on 10/9. Photo: Yonhap

Fire trucks at the gate of the artillery base near Paju, South Korea, on 10/9. Photo: Yonhap

Bae Seok-jin, a public affairs officer for the South Korean army, stated on 11/9 that this type of training round had experienced three incidents between 2021 and 2023 and had been suspended multiple times.

"The previous accidents were caused by soldiers failing to follow proper explosive handling procedures, not by defects in the rounds. The South Korean army continued to use this type of training round after reinforcing the importance of adhering to safety protocols," Bae said.

Representative Yoo Yong-won, a member of the South Korean National Assembly's National Defense Committee, explained that the training round's fuse is designed to activate only with an electric current. However, the round could explode if water seeps through the protective cap or if it's exposed to high temperatures for an extended period.

Another incident occurred the same day at an air base on Jeju Island during a South Korean reserve forces exercise. A simulated mine exploded, causing minor injuries to seven people. The injured individuals received treatment at a nearby civilian hospital and were subsequently released.

Nguyen Tien (Yonhap, AFP, AP)