On the 10th, it was reported that the dummy round that left 10 people injured during an Army artillery unit training in Paju had also malfunctioned in the past.
Army Public Affairs Director Col. Bae Seok-jin said at a regular Ministry of National Defense briefing on the 11th, "There were malfunctions once each in 2021, 2022, and 2023, and at that time we also suspended use until the causes were analyzed." He added that the three past incidents were caused by improper dud-handling procedures, not by a defect in the round itself, and that after emphasizing compliance with safety procedures, use of the round was resumed.
Bae went on to say that use of the round had been halted due to this accident. He said, "The military police, the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DTaQ), the ammunition command, and other related agencies are investigating the exact circumstances of the accident," adding, "Based on the findings, we will devise necessary measures, including steps to prevent a recurrence."
The previous day, at an Army artillery unit in Jeokseong-myeon, Paju, a dummy round that simulates firing sounds and smoke exploded during a non-firing drill, injuring 10 service members. A total of 10 people were injured in the accident, and six, including two in serious condition, are receiving intensive burn treatment.
The dummy round is loaded 24 at a time into a firing-effect simulator and is designed to ignite electrically one by one, but given that 10 people were injured at once, some observers said it likely detonated all at once. Rep. Yu Yong-won of the People Power Party noted, "It can occasionally explode if water seeps in through the top cap or if it is exposed to high temperatures for a long time, so care is needed in handling."