Chinese, Russian military aircraft briefly enter Korea's air defense identification zone during joint drills

Approximately 10 Chinese and Russian military aircraft entered Korea's air defense identification zone (Kadiz) without prior notice on Saturday, later leaving without incident but still prompting Korea's military to prepare contingency responses.

"Some 10 Chinese and Russian military aircraft sequentially entered and later exited the Kadiz over the East Sea and the South Sea, but there was no violation of Korea's airspace,” Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced the same day.

The JCS added that the military had identified the Chinese and Russian aircraft before they entered the Kadiz, and that it “deployed Air Force fighter jets to carry out tactical measures in preparation for any contingency,”

The aircraft that entered the Kadiz reportedly included bombers and fighter jets participating in an ongoing joint China-Russia air exercise.

It marked the first time Chinese and Russian military aircraft had entered the Kadiz since December of last year. At that time, nine Chinese and Russian military aircraft taking part in a joint exercise entered and later exited the Kadiz over the East Sea and the South Sea.

An air defense identification zone (ADIZ) is an area established by a country to identify and respond to approaching military aircraft before they enter its sovereign airspace. It is distinct from a country's territorial airspace and does not constitute sovereign territory.

Under international practice, military aircraft entering another country's ADIZ are generally expected to submit their flight plans in advance and notify the relevant authorities of their position upon entry.

BY  JANG GU-SEOUL [[email protected]]