South Korea scrambles jets after Russian planes enter zone

South Korea said Wednesday it scrambled fighter jets after multiple Russian military aircraft entered its air defence identification zone over the East Sea, also called the Sea of Japan.

South Korea's defence ministry said its military detected the aircraft before they entered the zone and deployed Air Force fighter jets to prepare for any contingency. It did not give further details.

The ministry said the Russian aircraft left the zone and did not violate South Korean airspace.

An air defence identification zone is not sovereign airspace. It is a buffer area where countries ask foreign aircraft to identify themselves for security purposes, though there is no legal obligation to do so.

The ministry described the incident as the second such incursion in weeks. In late June, more than 10 Chinese and Russian military aircraft entered South Korea's air defence zone. South Korea protested to Beijing and Moscow after that incident and demanded steps to prevent a recurrence.

Relations between South Korea and Russia have worsened since Seoul joined Western sanctions after Russia's invasion of Ukraine and as Moscow strengthened ties with North Korea.