SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea fired several ballistic missiles into the sea on Monday, South Korea’s military said, hours after South Korean and U.S. troops kicked off their large annual combined drills, which the North views as an invasion rehearsal.

Two South Korean fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs on a civilian area during training, injuring at least eight people, officials said.

At least 15 people were injured after South Korean fighter jets involved in a live-fire drill dropped bombs on Pocheon, Seoul's military said.

South Korean fighter jets mistakenly dropped eight bombs on a civilian district on Thursday, injuring 15 people and damaging houses and a church during military exercises in Pocheon, the Air Force and fire agency said.

The incident took place at 10:04 am (local time), and the Air Force assured that it was investigating the accident. The authorities also apologised for the damage caused to the civilians

Seven people were hurt on Thursday after a shell was dropped on a civilian district during live-fire military exercises in Pocheon, South Korea, broadcaster YTN said. South Korea's defence ministry was not immediately available for comment.

At least eight people were injured in South Korea on Thursday (March 6) after bombs dropped by an Air Force jet landed in a civilian district, damaging houses and a church during military exercises in Pocheon,

At least seven people were injured in South Korea after a fighter jet accidentally dropped eight bombs on a civilian area during training linked to joint military drills with the United States, officials said.