Intercept Nine Russian And Chinese Military Jets, South Korea Deploys Fighter Jets

Ilustrasi jet tempur F-15 Korea Selatan. (Wikimedia Commons/Republic of Korea Armed Forces)

JAKARTA - South Korea's military deployed its fighter jets on Friday after two Chinese and seven Russian warplanes entered an air defense identification zone during what Beijing described as regular training.

The Chinese and Russian aircraft entered the northeastern part of the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) for an indefinite period before exiting, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, adding they had not violated its airspace.

The JCS sends fighter jets and refueling tankers in the air, as a normal measure to prepare for possible contingencies.

The Chinese military said in response to a question that its military aircraft were conducting routine exercises, the JCS said.

"We assess the situation as a joint Chinese and Russian military exercise, but additional analysis is needed", the JCS said in a statement, citing Reuters November 19.

Chinese and Russian warplanes have frequently entered the zone in recent years, amid conflicting claims over various Air Defense Identification Zones (ADIZs).

Unlike airspace, an ADIZ is usually an area where countries can unilaterally demand that foreign aircraft take special steps to identify themselves, without international law governing the ADIZ.

To note, Moscow does not recognize KADIZ, while Beijing says the area is not territorial airspace and all countries should enjoy the freedom of movement there.

In 2019, South Korean warplanes fired hundreds of warning shots at Russian military aircraft as they entered South Korean airspace during joint air patrols with China.

South Korea and Japan had deployed jets to intercept patrols at the time, accusing Russia and China of violating their airspace. Meanwhile, Moscow and Beijing have denied the allegations.