South Korea has formally protested to China and Russia after their military aircraft entered the South Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) on Tuesday, triggering a rapid response from Seoul’s air force. According to a BBC report, South Korea deployed its own fighter jets as a precaution amid rising regional tensions.
Seoul stated that seven Russian and two Chinese military aircraft briefly entered the KADIZ, though none violated the country’s sovereign airspace. While an ADIZ is not recognized as sovereign territory under international law, foreign aircraft are expected to identify themselves when entering the zone.
A similar incident occurred in March when Russian aircraft entered the KADIZ, prompting South Korea to scramble fighter jets. This time, Russian jets were detected near Ulleungdo and the disputed Dokdo islets, while Chinese aircraft flew near Ieodo, an underwater reef claimed by both South Korea and China. Later, the aircraft regrouped near Japan’s Tsushima Island.
South Korea’s defense ministry said it will continue to respond proactively to foreign military activity within the KADIZ, in accordance with international norms.
China confirmed on Wednesday that it conducted joint air patrols with Russia over the East China Sea and the Western Pacific, describing the operation as part of an annual cooperation plan aimed at strengthening regional security and maintaining stability. Similar joint exercises have repeatedly led to unannounced entries into South Korea’s ADIZ in recent years.
Russia, however, has dismissed Seoul’s concerns, claiming the KADIZ is a unilaterally declared zone.
