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South Korea scrambles fighter jets following Russian aircraft intrusion

By Elizabeth Shim
Russia’s Sukhoi Su-27s entered South Korea’s Air Defense Identification Zone on Tuesday. File Photo by Sergei Ilnitsky/EPA-EFE
Russia’s Sukhoi Su-27s entered South Korea’s Air Defense Identification Zone on Tuesday. File Photo by Sergei Ilnitsky/EPA-EFE

Oct. 22 (UPI) -- South Korea dispatched fighter jets after six Russian military aircraft entered South Korea's Air Defense Identification Zone multiple times on Tuesday.

The Russian planes, including an A-50 early-warning aircraft, three Sukhoi SU-27 fighter jets, two TU-95 bombers, entered KADIZ in areas of the East Sea, South Korean newspaper Kukmin Ilbo reported.

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According to South Korea's joint chiefs of staff, the Russian aircraft began entering Seoul's air defense zone at 9:23 a.m. The A-50 early warning aircraft flew in an area of KADIZ near South Korea's Ulleung Island, then exited the air defense zone at about 9:30 a.m.

The Russian early warning aircraft reentered KADIZ at about 10:06 a.m., exiting again at 10:13 a.m.

One of the SU-27 fighter jets and the two TU-95 bombers entered South Korea's air defense zone at 10:41 a.m., flying between Ulleung Island and the South Korea administered Dokdo Islets. The aircraft flew South then left KADIZ at 11:10 a.m.

In July, Chinese and Russian aircraft breached KADIZ near Dokdo, prompting South Korea to scramble jets.

On Tuesday the TU-95 bombers later entered Japan's Air Defense Identification Zone, or JADIZ, reentering KADIZ from an area south of Jeju Island. The bombers exited KADIZ at 12:58 p.m., in an area west of Taean, South Chungcheong Province. They reappeared in Korea's air defense zone at 1:40 p.m., returning at 3:13 p.m.

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The Russian aircraft breached South Korea's KADIZ, but did not enter South Korean territorial airspace, Yonhap reported.

South Korea dispatched 10 fighter jets, including the F-15 and KF-16. Seoul's joint chiefs of staff said Russian aircraft have entered KADIZ a total of 20 times in 2019.

Korea's defense ministry filed a "strong protest" with the Russian government on Tuesday, according to Yonhap.

The two governments are to hold a meeting of military committees in Seoul on Wednesday and Thursday.

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