A Russian Sukhoi fighter jet escorts a Chinese H-6 bomber as Russian and Chinese military aircraft enter the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone in May 2022. [Yonhap]
A Russian Sukhoi fighter jet escorts a Chinese H-6 bomber as Russian and Chinese military aircraft enter the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone in May 2022. [Yonhap]

Several Russian military aircraft entered South Korea's Korea Air Defense Identification Zone without prior notice on Tuesday, prompting the Air Force to scramble fighter jets.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff said Wednesday that "several Russian military aircraft entered and then exited the KADIZ over the East Sea on Tuesday, and there was no violation of South Korean airspace."

The military added that it had detected the Russian aircraft before they entered the KADIZ and deployed Air Force fighter jets to carry out tactical measures in preparation for any contingency.

The Russian aircraft are believed to have flown from the southeast to the northwest over the East Sea before entering the KADIZ near Ulleungdo and Dokdo.

The KADIZ is a self-declared line established to allow early identification of and response to military aircraft approaching a country's airspace. It is distinct from airspace itself, which is a matter of national sovereignty.

However, it is standard international practice for military aircraft entering another country's air defense identification zone to submit a flight plan in advance and report their position upon entry.

A similar incident occurred on June 27, when more than 10 Chinese and Russian military aircraft participating in a joint air exercise entered the KADIZ over the East Sea and the South Sea, prompting South Korean jets to scramble. In December last year, nine Chinese and Russian military aircraft also entered and exited the KADIZ over the East Sea and the South Sea.


youknow@heraldcorp.com