USFK says no white phosphorus found at Osan base after suspected leak alert
Seoul, Aug 6
No white phosphorus has been found at the US Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, the US Forces Korea said Thursday, after an emergency alert was issued in the region last week over a suspected white phosphorus leak at the base.
The USFK disclosed the findings on the Osan Air Base website after the Pyeongtaek city government issued the alert on July 28, notifying the public of a possible white phosphorus leak at the base following a report from the US military, Yonhap News Agency reported.
"Following thorough inspection and testing, we can confirm that the crystallisation and residue identified during a routine munitions inspection on July 28 were not white phosphorus nor contained traces of white phosphorus," the USFK said.
"After follow-on analysis, we are confident that the residue was non-hazardous surface corrosion resulting from environmental exposure over time," it said.
Emergency response professionals responded immediately to ensure full containment of the munitions and base operations are proceeding normally, with no injuries, the USFK also noted.
"We deeply value the trust of our Pyeongtaek neighbours and are committed to keeping everyone safe, informed and updated," it added.
White phosphorus is an extremely toxic substance capable of burning human tissue down to the bone upon contact. Its military use is tightly regulated and discouraged by the international community.
On July 28, Officials said white phosphorus leaked from two munitions, although the exact amount released remains unconfirmed. No casualties have been reported, they said.
The US military reportedly informed the city that the leaked substance had been roughly 80 per cent diluted and that it poses a low risk to public health and the surrounding environment.
Pyeongtaek authorities subsequently lifted the evacuation advisory, about 36 minutes after the initial alert, informing residents that it was safe to return to normal after necessary measures were completed at the US base.
The US military confirmed a "ground mishap" had occurred and cordoned off the area to protect the base and local residents, saying the situation is being addressed swiftly.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The Korean authorities handled this responsibly with the 36-minute evacuation advisory. Compare that to how some industrial accidents are handled in our country — often no warnings at all until it's too late. Appreciate the quick response from Pyeongtaek officials.
White phosphorus is no joke — that stuff burns to the bone. This was a false alarm this time, but what about all the other US military bases around the world? The USFK should be more careful with their munitions storage. Safety protocols exist for a reason.
At least they took it seriously and inspected thoroughly. In many places, the response would have been "nothing to worry about" without proper checks. Glad no one got hurt. Hope the USFK continues to be transparent with the local community. 🙏
The fact that the US military called it a "ground mishap" while informing the city suggests they didn't know what it was at first either. This shows that even advanced militaries have uncertainties. Good to see the false alarm, but the trust issue with foreign troops stationed abroad remains a legitimate concern.
What a relief! Imagine the panic if it had actually been white phosphorus. The Korean authorities did a great job informing the public immediately. This sets a good example for emergency communication. Well done to the emergency response teams from both sides. 🇮🇳🇰🇷
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.