The South Korean military says pilot error was the main cause of an accidental bombing outside a training range last week. The country's top Air Force commander apologized over the incident.



The military on Monday released an interim report on the accident that injured 31 people, including 19 civilians.



Two KF-16 fighter jets on Thursday mistakenly dropped eight bombs on a town outside the range in Pocheon, about 40 kilometers north of South Korea's capital, Seoul.



The report says the pilot of the first jet entered wrong latitude coordinates of the target and dropped the bombs without looking at it.



It also says second jet's pilot, correctly entered the target's coordinates, was instructed by the first pilot to drop the bombs, but also dropped them without looking at the target.



The Air Force Chief of Staff, General Lee Young-su, apologized at a news conference, saying the Air Force that should protect the lives and property of the people inflicted harm on them.



South Korea and the United States started their regular joint military exercises on Monday.



The South Korean military says it has suspended live-fire drills until preventive measures are drawn up.