SEOUL -- A U.S. U-2 spy plane crashed near the South Korean capital, Seoul, on Sunday, the Defense Ministry said.

"The plane crashed at around 03:00 P.M. (0600 GMT) but details including casualties and the cause of the accident are not immediately available," a ministry spokesman said.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency said the military plane crashed into a car repair shop and exploded, causing minor injuries to two people nearby, Reuters reported.

YTN television said one pilot was believed to have ejected before the crash. It was not known if anyone else was on board the plane.

Korean Broadcasting System said the aircraft was believed to have taken off from a U.S. airbase in Osan, not far from the crash site in Hwasong city, south of Seoul.

About 37,000 U.S. troops are based in South Korea.

Korea has been divided by the heavily fortified demilitarized zone since the 1950-53 Korean War.