UPDATE - Chinese, Russian military jets entered air defense zone without notice: South Korea

REVISES HEADLINE, DECK; UPDATES WITH SOUTH KOREA'S CLAIM OF TRESSPASSING

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - South Korea Tuesday claimed that Chinese and Russian military planes taking part in a joint aerial drill entered its air defense identification zone "without notice."

Seoul soon mobilized its air forces and flew jets around its airspace.

Four Chinese and as many Russian military planes entered South Korea's air defense identification zone without notice Tuesday, Seoul's military said, according to Seoul-based Yonhap News, prompting the South Korean Air Force to send its fighter jets to the scene.

The planes, however, did not violate South Korea's airspace, it added.

The development came hours after Chinese and Russian air forces held a joint “strategic” patrol earlier in the day.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said that between 11:52 a.m. (0252GMT) and 01:49 p.m. (0449GMT), Chinese and Russian aircraft trickled into the southern and eastern parts of the identification zone, respectively, and then exited it.

"Our military identified the Chinese and Russian planes before their entry into the KADIZ (identification zone) and deployed Air Force fighters to conduct tactical steps in preparation against potential accidental situations," the Chiefs of Staff added.

The air defense zone is not territorial airspace but is delineated to call on foreign planes to identify themselves so as to prevent accidental clashes.

According to China’s Defense Ministry, the joint patrol was done over “relevant” airspace of the Sea of ​​Japan and the East China Sea.

The patrol is part of an annual cooperation plan between the Chinese and Russian militaries, the ministry said.

It was the sixth joint air strategic patrol conducted by the militaries, it added.


*Aamir Latif reported from Pakistan