South Korea scrambles fighter jets after over 10 Chinese and Russian aircraft enter its air defense zone
South Korea scrambled fighter jets on Saturday after more than 10 Chinese and Russian military aircraft entered the country's air defense identification zone over the East Sea and south of the Korean Peninsula, though no airspace violation occurred.
Incident details
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the Chinese and Russian aircraft entered and then exited the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) on Saturday, without violating sovereign airspace. The incursion took place over the East Sea (Sea of Japan) and the area south of the Korean Peninsula.
The South Korean military detected the incoming aircraft before they entered the zone and scrambled Air Force fighter jets "to prepare for any contingency," according to a statement.
The South Korean military detected the Chinese and Russian aircraft before their entry into the zone and deployed Air Force fighter jets to prepare for any contingency.
China and Russia did not immediately comment on the incident.
What is the KADIZ?
An Air Defense Identification Zone is not sovereign airspace but a buffer zone where countries require approaching aircraft to identify themselves for security reasons. Under international practice, military aircraft are expected to notify the country before entering such a zone, although this is not mandatory.
South Korea's KADIZ was established in 2013, overlapping with similar zones claimed by China and Japan. The overlapping boundaries often lead to regional tensions.
December 2025 precedent
Saturday's episode follows a similar event in December 2025, when nine Russian and Chinese military aircraft flew near South Korean and Japanese territory, prompting emergency scrambles from both nations.
At the time, Beijing and Moscow described the flights as part of a joint patrol over the western Pacific that included strategic bombers. South Korea and Japan protested, with Seoul lodging a formal complaint and Tokyo expressing "serious concern."
A South Korean military official told Yonhap that Saturday's flights may have occurred during joint air maneuvers by China and Russia.
- Nine Russian and Chinese warplanes fly near South Korea and Japan, triggering scrambles and protests; described as joint patrol involving strategic bombers.
- Over 10 Chinese and Russian military aircraft enter KADIZ; South Korea scrambles fighters, no sovereign airspace violation.
Reactions and regional tension
The incident underscores continued military activity by China and Russia in East Asia, which has drawn repeated responses from U.S. allies in the region. South Korea's immediate deployment of fighters signals its readiness to respond, even when no territorial violation takes place.
No further details were provided on the types of aircraft involved or the duration of the flights.
