South Korea scrambled fighter jets as six Russian military and five Chinese aircraft flew through its air defense zone, the country’s military has said.
Seoul‘s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a news release that the Chinese and Russian planes entered and exited the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) in the East Sea and South Sea from 9.35am (00.35 GMT) to 1.53pm on Friday.
Air defense identification zones are a broader area than a country’s airspace, and countries seek the identification, location, and control of aircraft that pass through them to protect national security.
However, unlike airspace, ADIZs aren’t defined in any international treaty. The JCS noted that the planes enterted the KADIZ “without violating South Korean airspace”.
Seoul‘s military said it identified the jets before they entered the zone and “deployed Air Force fighter jets to take tactical measures in preparation for any contingencies,” as per the statement.
The Chinese defense ministry said on social media that the flights were their “ninth joint strategic patrol,” and took place above the Sea of Japan.
The department said the flights were held today “according to the annual cooperation plan between the Chinese and Russian militaries.”
In recent years, Chinese and Russian aircraft have often entered the South Korean air defence zone without incident. Neither country recognises the South Korean air defence zone.
Chinese military aircraft flew towards the small Dokdo islands off South Korea’s eastern coast, South Korean military officials said, reports CBS News.
They’re then said to have passed between the Korean peninsula and Japan close to Ieodo.
Russian planes are also said to have flown south in the direction of the Dokdo islets.
Officials said the two nations’ planes flew together over the sea south of Dokdo before leaving.
In response South Korea’s defense ministry “expressed regret” to Beijing and Moscow for entering the KADIZ and “flying for an extended period without prior notice.”
It asked that “appropriate measures be taken to prevent a recurrence”, adding that further incidents would “unnecessarily heighten tensions in the region.”
China and Russia have deepened their military and defense ties since Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
Both countries have been traditional allies of North Korea, South Korea’s arch-foe, with thousands of North Korean soldiers reportedly in Russia to fight for Putin.
Meanwhile, Soeul has close ties with the United States and Europe, including the UK.