Russian, Chinese Warplanes Enter South Korean Air Defense Zone

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that the Russian and Chinese aircraft entered the area in sequence and exited without incident.

A South Korean Air Force F-35A fighter jet takes off from the runway during the "Vigilant Storm" U.S.–South Korea joint aerial drill at Gunsan Air Base, South Korea, on Oct. 31, 2022. South Korean Defense Ministry via Getty Images

South Korean fighter jets scrambled as 11 Russian and Chinese military aircraft entered South Korea’s air defense identification zone on Friday for more than four hours, according to the South Korean military.

The air defense identification zone is different from the nation’s airspace, which the military aircraft did not breach. Russia and China do not recognize South Korea’s defense zone as South Korean territory. The two countries regularly hold joint air drills.