Jet Fightersgoogle photo

South Korea Sends Fighter Jets as Chinese Warplanes Approach

South Korea's military has reported that it dispatched fighter jets as two Chinese and four Russian military planes entered its air defense zone, an area larger than the country's airspace.

Published on:

14 Dec 2023, 1:51 pm

The Chinese and Russian planes entered and exited the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) in the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, from 11.53 am (0253 GMT) to 12.10 pm, according to Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.

However, they clarified, "there was no invasion of airspace," and the South Korean military identified the planes "before they entered KADIZ and deployed air force fighter jets to take tactical measures in preparation for contingencies."

An air defense identification zone is a broader area than a country’s airspace in which it tries to control aircraft for security reasons. Nevertheless, the concept is not defined in any international treaty.

China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, described the incident on Thursday as “a routine flight activity.”

“As far as I know, I think this was a routine flight activity by Chinese military aircraft above international waters, which is understandable and under international law,” she stated during a regular press briefing.

China and Russia, being traditional allies of North Korea, have raised concerns about the growing military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow, a matter Washington warned about last month, calling it "growing and dangerous."

The United States has urged Beijing, North Korea's primary economic benefactor, to restrain Pyongyang. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said last week that Washington, along with allies Seoul and Tokyo, would "stand up" for stability across the Taiwan Strait and reiterated their commitment to freedom of navigation in the disputed South China Sea.

China has increased military and political pressures on democratic Taiwan, claiming it as its territory.

In response, Washington and its Western allies have heightened "freedom of navigation" crossings by naval vessels in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, which has irked Beijing.

Last month, North Korea, a nuclear-armed nation, launched a military spy satellite into orbit, with Seoul alleging that Moscow assisted in the endeavor in exchange for supplying weapons for use in Russia's conflict with Ukraine.