2 Chinese, 6 Russian Warplanes Intrude Into South Korea's Air Defence Zone

Two Chinese and six Russian warplanes flew into South Korea’s air defence identification zone (KADIZ) without warning on Wednesday, prompting the Air Force to scramble fighters to the scene, according to Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

The planes’ entry into the KADIZ comes as South Korea seeks to strengthen its alliance with the United States amid escalating Sino-American rivalry while remaining opposed to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

According to the JCS, the warplanes flew across the KADIZ but did not violate South Korea’s territorial airspace.

Two Chinese H-6 bombers flew into the KADIZ at 5.48 a.m. (local time) from an area 126 kilometres northwest of Leo Islet, a submerged rock south of the southern island of Jeju and left at 6.13 a.m. (local time).

The bombers reentered the KADIZ at 6.44 a.m. (local time) from an area northeast of Pohang, South Korea’s southern port city, and exited at 7.07 a.m. (local time).

Then, at 12.18 p.m. (local time), six Russian aircraft (four TU-95 bombers and two SU-35 fighters) and two Chinese H-6 bombers flew into the KADIZ from an area 200 kilometres northeast of the South's Ulleung Island and flew out at 12.36 p.m. (local time).

According to observers, the two countries appeared to be conducting a joint air exercise.

According to the JCS, South Korean military aircraft, including F-15K jets, were deployed in a tactical response to a potential accidental situation.

The air defence zone is not territorial airspace, but it is designated to require foreign planes to identify themselves in order to avoid accidental collisions.