Russian jets prompt swift response from South Korea
Russian military aircraft entered South Korea's air defence identification zone, and Seoul scrambled its fighter jets in response.
What do you need to know?
- Russian military aircraft entered South Korea's air defence identification zone on Saturday, as confirmed by South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.
- There was no violation of South Korea's airspace, and the incident occurred during exercises, according to the Yonhap agency.
- Similar incidents have occurred in the past, including in November 2024 when Chinese and Russian aircraft entered the identification zone.
Why did Russian aircraft enter the zone?
Russian military aircraft entered South Korea's air defence identification zone, prompting Seoul to respond immediately. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that fighter jets were scrambled in response.
The Yonhap agency cited a statement emphasizing that there was no violation of the country's airspace.
What were past incidents?
Similar situations have occurred in the past. In November 2024, five Chinese and six Russian military aircraft entered the identification zone without prior notice. At that time, the authorities in Seoul also scrambled fighter jets and lodged a diplomatic protest.
An air defence identification zone is not national airspace, but the South Korean authorities require aircraft entering it to provide prior notification.
What does the air defence identification zone mean?
No international treaty defines the air defence identification zone, but it plays a vital role in monitoring air traffic. The South Korean authorities expect aircraft entering this zone to notify in advance.
The Yonhap agency, citing a statement from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reported that there is no indication that Russian aircraft had any intention of entering South Korea's airspace unlawfully.
