Seoul, August 26 (QNA) - Several Russian military aircraft briefly entered South Korea's air defense identification zone (KADIZ) over the country's eastern waters before leaving the area, prompting the South Korean military to scramble fighter jets in response, officials said Wednesday.
The Russian aircraft entered the KADIZ near South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo and nearby Ulleung Island on Tuesday afternoon before withdrawing from the zone, according to the country's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
The JCS said the South Korean military detected the aircraft before they entered the air defense zone and deployed Air Force fighter jets to prepare for any possible contingencies. The Russian aircraft did not violate South Korea's territorial airspace, it added.
A KADIZ is not part of a country's territorial airspace. Rather, it is an area designated to require foreign aircraft to identify themselves in order to help prevent accidental clashes.
The latest incident follows the brief entry of nearly 10 Chinese and Russian military aircraft into the KADIZ over South Korea's eastern and southern waters in late June. The aircraft also did not violate South Korean airspace, and Seoul subsequently lodged a strong protest with China and Russia, urging both countries to take measures to prevent a recurrence. (QNA)