The South Korean military has detected two Chinese H-6 bombers frequently entering and exiting the zone and subsequently returning from the Sea of Japan with six Russian airplanes.
South Korea has dispatched fighter jets in response to the detection of two Chinese and six Russian warplanes in its air defense zone.
At approximately 5:50 a.m. local time, the two Chinese H-6 bombers repeatedly entered and exited the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) off the country’s southern and northeastern coasts, according to the military.
They returned from the Sea of Japan hours later with the Russian warplanes, including TU-95 bombers and SU-35 fighter jets, and remained in the zone for 18 minutes before leaving.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) stated that our military despatched air force fighter jets before the Chinese and Russian aircraft’s entry into the KADIZ in preparation for a potential situation.
The aircraft did not violate South Korean airspace, the statement claimed.
After the Chinese bombers sailed from the East China Sea into the Sea of Japan, where they were joined by two Russian drones, the Japanese defense ministry also scrambled fighter fighters.
Air defense zones are areas where foreign aircraft are required to take further precautions to identify themselves.
In contrast to a country’s airspace – the region above its territory and territorial waters – there are no international regulations controlling air defense zones.
Moscow does not recognize the air defense zone of South Korea. Beijing stated that the zone is not a territorial airspace and that other nations should be able to move freely there.
China and Russia have previously said that their warplanes often participate in joint exercises.
Not for the first time in recent memory have Russian airplanes been detected entering the KADIZ.
In August, the JCS reported spotting Russian aircraft approaching the zone.
During a coordinated air patrol with China in 2019, South Korean airplanes fired hundreds of warning shots at Russian military aircraft as they entered the KADIZ.
