S. Korea Protests China-Russia Jets Defense Breach

(MENAFN) South Korea issued a formal complaint to Beijing and Moscow on Wednesday following unauthorized incursions by military aircraft into its air defense identification zone.

Nine warplanes—seven from Russia and two from China—penetrated the KADIZ on Tuesday, flying through waters off the nation's eastern and southern coastlines before departing. The breach triggered an immediate scramble of South Korean fighter jets.

Lee Kwang-suk, who heads the Defense Ministry's international policy bureau, delivered what media described as a "sternly" worded objection regarding the unauthorized zone entry.

The ministry issued a declaration emphasizing its commitment to enforcement: "Our military will actively respond to aircraft activities from neighboring countries in the KADIZ in compliance with international law."

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff clarified that while the incursion violated defense protocols, no actual territorial airspace was breached.

China's Defense Ministry defended the operation, characterizing it as a demonstration of "resolve and capability" by both air forces to counter "regional security challenges and safeguard peace and stability."

Defense spokesman Zhang Xiaogang revealed the mission marked the tenth joint operation between the two nations, explaining it "was the 10th such mission between the two militaries and was carried out under the annual cooperation plan," according to Chinese media. The patrol covered the East China Sea and western Pacific regions.

Japan separately confirmed deploying its own interceptors on Tuesday as the formation approached its territory, though no airspace violation occurred there either.

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