This archive report was first published on 23 July 2019.
On July 23, 2019, a tense incident unfolded in the skies above the Dokdo/Takeshima islands, a disputed territory claimed by both South Korea and Japan. According to South Korea's Ministry of Defence, a Russian A-50 military aircraft entered the country's airspace, prompting a swift response from the South Korean military.
Ministry officials stated that fighter jets were scrambled in response to the incursion, and 360 warning shots were fired to deter the Russian aircraft. The incident marked the first of its kind between Russia and South Korea.
South Korea's military reported that the Russian aircraft was one of several warplanes that entered the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) on Tuesday morning. While Russian and Chinese bombers and reconnaissance planes have occasionally entered the zone in recent years, this incident was notable for the aircraft's entry into South Korea's territorial airspace.
South Korean F-15k and F-16k planes were deployed to intercept the Russian aircraft, which was said to have flown further into South Korean airspace than the other planes. The head of South Korea's National Security Office, Chung Eui-yong, lodged a strong objection with the Security Council of Russia, urging the council to take appropriate action.
“We take a very grave view of this situation and, if it is repeated, we will take even stronger action,” the South Korean president's office quoted Mr. Chung as saying.
