Residents protest U.S. Army's 'unscheduled' live fire drills

Residents from around the U.S. shooting range near the inter-Korean border continued a sit-in on Monday to protest against the U.S. military conducting what they said were “unscheduled” live-fire drills.

Scores of villagers blockaded the front and the back gate of the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, with tractors and 1-ton freight trucks starting around 5 p.m. on Sunday.

They called for an end to the military training and an apology from the U.S. Army.

“The government and the U.S. military alike did not present any measures to protect residents from the noise and stray shells,” said Kim Min-geon, secretary-general of the civilian committee working to improve the conditions in the neighborhood near the military facility.

“We had had enough, so we blocked the range’s entrances as a last resort,” he told The Korea Herald. “We have stayed up all night from Sunday afternoon, but there is no response from the U.S. military or Korean government.”

Noise complaints have persisted from residents living in adjacent villages due to nighttime shooting drills, some of which have led to stray bullets flying into homes. Since last year, they have sought compensation and measures to guarantee their safety.

Last December, a missile accidently landed on the roof of a nearby religious facility in the neighborhood during an artillery drill at the Rodriquez range. No one was hurt because the facility was closed.

In response, the 8th Army, the U.S. military’s main troops to deter North Korean ground-based aggression, halted training at the border area. It also vowed to inform the residents in advance of its drill schedule each month.

But the U.S. Army resumed the exercises following North Korea’s fourth nuclear test in January. Villagers argued that the schedule of shooting drills had been different than they were told.

The 8th United States Army was unavailable to comment on the issue.

Kim said the villagers plan to fight against the shooting training until their demands are heard.

By Ock Hyun-ju (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)