SEOUL: South Korea's military reported that two Chinese and four Russian military aircraft entered its air defense identification zone (KADIZ) in the East Sea on Thursday without prior notice. This prompted South Korea to deploy its fighter jets to the area. The incident occurred between 11:53 a.m. and 12:10 p.m., with the aircraft entering the KADIZ north of Ulleung Island and exiting east of the Dokdo islets, as stated by an official from Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

The JCS clarified that the foreign aircraft did not violate South Korea's airspace. However, the South Korean military detected the aircraft prior to their entry into the KADIZ and took tactical measures by mobilizing Air Force jets. The air defense zone is established to prevent accidental clashes by requiring foreign planes to identify themselves. South Korea communicated its objection to the incursion directly to China through a military line. However, no such protest could be made to Russia due to the absence of a direct communication line. Both China and Russia's defense ministries have stated that the joint strategic reconnaissance flight was part of their annual cooperation plans and complied with international laws, asserting that the flights were not targeted at any third country. This incursion follows a similar event in June when eight military planes from China and Russia entered the southern and eastern parts of the KADIZ.