Two fighter jets mistakenly bombed a village during a drill near the North Korean border, injuring 15 people. 

The incident occurred on Thursday when the jets were taking part in a joint exercise with the United States military and dropped four bombs, damaging residential homes and a school. 

The bombs were meant to hit a range several miles from the villa, but at least one of the South Korean pilots had entered inaccurate coordinates, the New York Times reported. 

Out of the 15 affected persons, four were seriously wounded and required surgery, while seven suffered shock and monitoring scratches from falling down. 

The military said it was suspending all live-fire drills while an investigation was being conducted. 

The exercise was connected to the annual joint exercises known as ‘Freedom Shield’ that the South Korean and U.S. military carry out every year.

It was officially set to start on Monday. 

The South Korean Air Force has issued an apology and promised compensation for the affected victims. 

“Something that should never have happened just happened. The place where the bombs landed is utterly chaotic and looks like a battlefield,” said Mayor Baek Young-hyun of Pocheon.

Mr Baek explained that the three large military firing ranges occupy 12,253 acres of land in Pocheon, and bullets that ricocheted from there have sometimes endangered villagers.