Multiple military aircraft from China and Russia entered South Korea's air defense identification zone (KADIZ) on Friday, prompting a swift response from South Korean forces, according to military officials in Seoul.
The incident involved five Chinese and six Russian military aircraft that entered the zone between 9:35 a.m. and 1:53 p.m. without prior notification. The aircraft approached from different directions - Chinese planes near Ieodo Island off the southern coast, while Russian aircraft came from the northeast.
The foreign aircraft, which included bombers and fighter jets, met and flew together over waters south of Dokdo before departing the area. While they entered the defense identification zone, they did not violate South Korean territorial airspace.
South Korean military officials deployed fighter jets as a precautionary measure after detecting the approaching aircraft. The air defense identification zone exists to help prevent accidental military confrontations by requiring foreign aircraft to identify themselves.
Military analysts believe this incident was part of ongoing joint exercises between China and Russia. Similar incidents have occurred once or twice annually since 2019, typically during joint military drills between the two nations. The most recent comparable event took place in December 2022 during a joint air patrol.
The pattern suggests continued military cooperation between Beijing and Moscow, though such flights remain a concern for South Korean defense officials who must respond to protect national airspace.