Seyoula says Russian military aircraft entered its air defense zone

South Korea said on Wednesday that it had scrambled fighter jets in response to the entry of Russian military aircraft into its air defense identification zone, marking the second such incursion in weeks.

Bilateral relations between the two countries have deteriorated since South Korea joined Western sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and as Moscow has strengthened its ties with North Korea.

The South Korean Defense Ministry reported that Russian aircraft entered and then exited its air defense identification zone over the East Sea, known as the Sea of Japan.

In a statement, it said, “The South Korean military detected the Russian aircraft before they entered the zone and deployed Air Force fighters in preparation for any emergency,” without providing further details.

For its part, the Russian Defense Ministry clarified that the patrol was part of routine military cooperation plans and “was not directed against other countries.”

Nevertheless, South Korea continues to lodge protests with Beijing and Moscow, calling for measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.