After entering sequentially for about 4 hours this morning, they withdrew... There was no airspace violation.
Forces participating in the China-Russia joint air exercise... China and Russia simultaneously entered KADIZ for the first time in six months
Chinese and Russian military aircraft, incursion into the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) (PG)
[Yonhap News photo]
About 10 Chinese and Russian military aircraft entered the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) on the 27th, and the military responded.
According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), about 10 Chinese and Russian military aircraft entered KADIZ in the East Sea and South Sea sequentially this morning and withdrew, and there was no airspace violation during this process.
The Chinese and Russian military aircraft reportedly entered KADIZ sequentially for about four hours from around 8:30 a.m. without prior notice.
The Chinese and Russian military aircraft that entered KADIZ are bombers and fighter jets, which are believed to be participating forces in the ongoing China-Russia joint air exercise.
Chinese military aircraft reportedly flew up from their country towards the South Sea, entering KADIZ around the Ieodo area, while Russian military aircraft entered KADIZ in the East Sea during their southward movement. They were also reported to have conducted tactical training after joining forces.
The military tracked and identified the Chinese and Russian military aircraft before they entered KADIZ, deployed Air Force fighter jets, and took tactical measures such as preparing for contingencies.
This is the first time in about six months that Chinese and Russian military aircraft have jointly entered KADIZ since last December. At that time, nine Chinese and Russian military aircraft participating in a joint exercise entered KADIZ in the East Sea and South Sea before withdrawing.
Since 2019, China and Russia have been sending military aircraft into KADIZ about once or twice a year under the pretext of joint exercises, but they have not provided prior notice.
The Air Defense Identification Zone is an arbitrary line set to identify and respond to military aircraft approaching national airspace early. It is a different concept from territorial airspace, which is a matter of individual state sovereignty.
However, it is customary for military aircraft entering the Air Defense Identification Zone of other countries to submit flight plans in advance and notify their location upon entry.
Russia, however, does not recognize Korea's control over KADIZ, claiming that it lacks a legal basis under international law. The Ieodo airspace KADIZ is an overlapping airspace where China and Korea have each established their own Air Defense Identification Zones.
kimhyoj@yna.co.kr