LOC12:23
09:23 GMT
TOKYO, Aug 24 (KUNA) -- Russia's strategic bombers have briefly violated South Korea's air defense identification zone, prompting the country's fighter jets to scramble to a nearby area, Yonhap News Agency reported Thursday.
"As the Russian aircraft entered the KADIZ in formation yesterday morning, a squadron of our Air Force jets made an emergency sorties," an official was quoted as saying. The Russian planes, however, did not intrude into South Korea's aerospace, he added. The aircraft are Tupolev Tu-95s, known to be 46.2 meters long and 50.1 meters wide, the report said.
Russia does not acknowledge the air defense identification zones of neighboring countries. Sometimes, its warplanes enter the zones which are a sort of defense-purpose concept neither stipulated in any state-to-state treaty nor regulated by any international body. The zone extends beyond its territory for more time to respond to possible hostile aircraft. South Korea's armed forces are pushing for the establishment of a relevant hotline with Russia to avoid a possible conflict. Russia's defense ministry announced Thursday that its strategic bombers have made "scheduled flights over the neutral waters" of the Pacific Ocean and several other seas. (end)
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