Russian Military Aircraft Increasingly Entering KADIZ

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Two Russian military aircraft entered the KADIZ (Korea Air Defense Identification Zone) without permission on the 23rd and then exited. It is likely a move to check the joint UFS (Ulchi Freedom Shield) exercise between South Korea and the United States, which began the day before.

According to Russia's state-run Sputnik News Agency, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that two strategic bombers, Tu95, conducted a "scheduled flight" over the East Sea on that day. It also reported that South Korean Air Force F16 fighters scrambled at certain stages of the flight route. The Russian military aircraft that entered KADIZ are known to include multiple planes, including two strategic bombers Tu95.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff also informed reporters immediately after Russia's announcement that "regarding the entry of Russian military aircraft into KADIZ, our military took normal tactical measures in preparation for any contingencies." Although the Air Defense Identification Zone is not sovereign airspace, it is an area established to prevent military conflicts, and prior notification to the relevant country is required upon entry.

However, it has been reported that Russia did not provide prior notification to South Korea. There is no 'hotline' in operation between the South Korean and Russian militaries for prior notification of exercises and the like. In particular, since the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the KADIZ entry through the media first, there is analysis that this was a protest against the start of the Ulchi Freedom Shield joint exercise, which resumed brigade-level or higher maneuver training for the first time in four years from the 22nd by South Korea and the United States.

Russian military aircraft also entered the KADIZ over the East Sea northwest of Ulleungdo without notification on March 24. On the same day, North Korea test-fired one intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from Pyongyang Sunan International Airport. On March 23, one Chinese military aircraft entered the KADIZ near Ieodo for two minutes.

Furthermore, in May, two Chinese military aircraft and four Russian military aircraft entered the KADIZ near Dokdo without permission. The South Korean Air Force scrambled several fighters, including F15K and KF16, to respond.

At that time, right after the launch of the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) in Japan, China and Russia's unauthorized entry into KADIZ raised the possibility that China issued a warning message in solidarity with Russia.

The airspace around Jeju and Ieodo overlaps with the air defense identification zones of South Korea, China, and Japan. Accordingly, even if Chinese military aircraft enter this area, the South Korean Air Force does not scramble fighters if appropriate communication is made through the Maritime Control and Reporting Center (MCRC) and the hotline with the Chinese Jinan Military Region Air Defense Center. However, since the East Sea KADIZ is South Korea's exclusive air defense identification zone, any unauthorized entry by foreign military aircraft is met with immediate fighter scramble response.

Russian and Chinese military aircraft are increasing the frequency of their KADIZ entries. Until 2017, unauthorized entries by Chinese aircraft were mainly limited to areas near Ieodo and the West Sea. However, now they are approaching the waters off Gangneung via the Korea Strait, directly pressuring South Korea.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.