The U.S. military has released the results of an investigation into a suspected white phosphorus leak at Osan Air Base in South Korea, confirming that no traces of the hazardous substance were found. This was reported by infohub.kz.
The incident occurred on July 28. That day, the Pyeongtaek city government sent residents warnings to move to safe places and avoid skin contact, as information spread about a possible white phosphorus leak from Osan Air Base. The base is located south of Seoul. White phosphorus is a chemical used in incendiary munitions and smoke bombs. When ignited, it burns at extremely high temperatures, setting buildings on fire and burning human flesh.
According to the city government, the evacuation alert was lifted later that evening after the U.S. military completed decontamination work. The initial warning was issued after consultations with the U.S. military, South Korean police, and emergency services.
In a statement released Thursday, the U.S. military said that crystals and residue found during a routine munitions inspection were confirmed not to be white phosphorus. Further analysis showed that these substances were non-hazardous surface corrosion resulting from environmental exposure over time. No injuries were reported.
Colonel Ryan Ley, commander of the 51st Fighter Wing, said in the statement: "We appreciate the city's close partnership in keeping our community safe, and we thank everyone for their patience as our team worked to resolve this situation."
The United States maintains approximately 28,500 troops in South Korea as a deterrent against potential aggression from North Korea. The U.S. military presence, along with crimes involving U.S. service members and the U.S. role in South Korea's history, has fueled anti-American sentiment among many South Koreans. Earlier this week, eight South Korean students were detained for breaking into Osan base while shouting anti-U.S. slogans.