About 10 Chinese and Russian military aircraft entered and then exited the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) over the East Sea and South Sea on Thursday. The military tracked the aircraft before they entered the zone and deployed Air Force fighter jets in response.
According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), about 10 Chinese and Russian military aircraft entered the KADIZ over the East Sea and South Sea sequentially that morning before leaving. The military identified and tracked the aircraft in advance and carried out tactical measures to prepare for contingencies. There was no airspace violation.
The aircraft that entered the KADIZ were identified as including bombers and fighter jets. They were said to be part of the ongoing China-Russia joint air exercise.
This marks the first time Chinese and Russian military aircraft have entered the KADIZ since December last year. At that time, nine Chinese and Russian military aircraft taking part in a joint exercise also entered and exited the KADIZ over the East Sea and South Sea.
An air defense identification zone is an area established to identify military aircraft approaching a country's airspace at an early stage. It differs from the airspace over which national sovereignty applies. However, it is considered international practice for military aircraft entering another country's air defense identification zone to submit a flight plan in advance and notify their position upon entry.
