South Korea says Russian military planes entered its air defence zone

SEOUL: South Korea reported on Wednesday that its defence ministry had scrambled fighter jets following Russian military aircraft entering its air defence zone. This marks the second such incursion in recent weeks. The tension between the nations has intensified since South Korea aligned with Western sanctions in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and since Moscow strengthened its connections with North Korea.

Seoul's defence ministry disclosed that multiple Russian aircraft had traversed and subsequently exited the air defence identification zone over the East Sea, alternatively termed the Sea of Japan. The Korean military detected the Russian aircraft approaching the zone, subsequently dispatching Air Force fighter jets to prepare for any potential scenario, though specifics were not provided.

The Russian aircraft did not breach South Korean territory, according to the ministry. An air defence identification zone does not constitute sovereign airspace; it serves as a buffer region where countries necessitate foreign aircraft to authenticate their identity for security reasons. Military aircraft are typically mandated to notify the relevant country prior to entering its zone, although there is no legal requirement for such notification.

In late June, over ten Chinese and Russian military aircraft had entered South Korea's air defence zone. The Chinese defence ministry at the time stated that Chinese and Russian forces had organized a "strategic air patrol" encompassing the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea, and the western Pacific Ocean. Russia's defence ministry asserted that the patrol was part of customary military cooperation arrangements and not directed at third parties.

Nevertheless, South Korea continued to lodge protests with Beijing and Moscow, urging measures to avert future occurrences.