Headlines

South Korea scrambles fighter jets as Chinese, Russian warplanes enter air defence zone

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on December 9, 2025

1 min read

· Last updated: January 20, 2026

Add as preferred source on Google
MeridianLink financial software firm announcement of $2 billion acquisition by Centerbridge - Global Banking & Finance Review
Featured image depicting the MeridianLink logo, highlighting the company's acquisition by Centerbridge Partners for $2 billion. This deal signifies a growing trend in private equity buyouts within the finance sector.
Global Banking & Finance Awards 2026 — Call for Entries

SEOUL, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Some 11 Chinese and Russian military planes entered and left South Korea's Korea Air Defence Identification Zone (KADIZ) airspace on Tuesday, the Newsis news agency reported,

South Korea Deploys Jets as Chinese, Russian Planes Enter Air Zone

SEOUL, ‌Dec 9 (Reuters) - South Korea's military said ‍it ‌had scrambled fighter jets when Chinese and Russian ⁠military planes ‌entered and left its air defence zone on Tuesday.

Seven Russian planes and two Chinese planes ⁠had entered the Korea Air Defence Identification Zone (KADIZ) at ​around 10 a.m. (0100 GMT) then ‌left, and there ⁠was no breach of its territorial airspace, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) ​said.

An earlier report by the Newsis news agency had said 11 planes had entered the air defence zone.

The Russian and ​Chinese ‍military aircraft had ​been identified and South Korean fighter jets were deployed in case of any contingencies, the JCS said.

The aircraft spent about an hour in the KADIZ off ⁠South Korea's east and south coast, the Yonhap News Agency ​also cited South Korea's military as saying.

Chinese and Russian military aircraft typically conduct joint exercises around the Korean ‌Peninsula once or twice a year, Yonhap reported.

(Reporting by Joyce LeeEditing by Ed Davies)

Key Takeaways

  • South Korea scrambled jets due to Chinese and Russian planes.
  • The planes entered the Korea Air Defence Identification Zone.
  • No breach of South Korea's territorial airspace occurred.
  • Joint exercises by China and Russia are routine near Korea.
  • South Korea remains vigilant against potential threats.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is air defence zone?
An air defence zone is a designated area where a country monitors and controls air traffic to protect its airspace from unauthorized incursions by military or civilian aircraft.
What are military exercises?
Military exercises are planned activities conducted by armed forces to practice and enhance their operational capabilities, often involving various branches of the military and sometimes allied nations.
What is territorial airspace?
Territorial airspace refers to the airspace above a country's land and territorial waters, which is subject to the sovereignty of that country and is protected from unauthorized entry.

Tags

Related Articles

More from Headlines

Explore more articles in the Headlines category