What did USFK say was found at Osan Air Base after the suspected white phosphorus leak alert?

USFK said the material identified during a routine munitions inspection on July 28 was not white phosphorus and did not contain traces of it. It said the residue was non-hazardous surface corrosion from environmental exposure over time.

Why was an emergency alert issued in Pyeongtaek over Osan Air Base?

Pyeongtaek city warned the public on July 28 after receiving a report from the U.S. military about a possible white phosphorus leak at the base. The alert advised nearby residents to evacuate to a safe location to prevent skin exposure.

Were there injuries or disruptions after the suspected leak at Osan Air Base?

USFK said emergency response professionals contained the munitions quickly and that base operations are proceeding normally. It also said no injuries were reported.

USFK says no white phosphorus found at Osan base after suspected leak alert

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Summary

USFK said Thursday no white phosphorus was found at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek after a suspected leak alert last week. It said the crystallization and residue found during a routine July 28 munitions inspection were not white phosphorus and were instead non-hazardous surface corrosion. Emergency response teams contained the munitions, and base operations are continuing normally with no injuries.

Key Facts

Pyeongtaek city issued an emergency alert on July 28 after a report from the U.S. military about a possible white phosphorus leak at Osan Air Base.
USFK said the residue found during the inspection was not white phosphorus and contained no traces of white phosphorus.
USFK said follow-on analysis showed the residue was non-hazardous surface corrosion caused by environmental exposure over time.
Emergency response professionals responded immediately to contain the munitions, and USFK said there were no injuries.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 6, 2026 8:31 pm KST
Updated Aug 6, 2026 9:22 pm KST

An F-16 fighter jet takes off at the U.S. Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, in this May 30, 2024, photo. Newsis

No white phosphorus has been found at the U.S. Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) 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 U.S. military.

"Following thorough inspection and testing, we can confirm that the crystallization and residue identified during a routine munitions inspection on July 28 was 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 neighbors and are committed to keeping everyone safe, informed and updated," it added.

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