As cases of Russian military aircraft entering the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) without prior notification continued, the Ministry of National Defense summoned Nikolai Marchenko, the Russian defense attaché in South Korea, on the 20th to express its protest.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, several Russian military aircraft entered and then exited the KADIZ in the East Sea sequentially in the morning, and there was no airspace violation during this process. The Russian military aircraft entered the KADIZ multiple times and flew about 20 km outside the airspace without responding to communications from the South Korean military. The Air Force deployed fighter jets and implemented tactical measures in preparation for any contingencies.

Colonel Nikolai Marchenko, the Russian Defense Attaché, is entering the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan, Seoul on the 20th. The Ministry of National Defense summoned the Russian Defense Attaché to protest against several Russian military aircraft re-entering the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) after five days. /Courtesy of Yonhap News Agency

It was found that Russian military aircraft entered the KADIZ a total of eight times from the 11th to that day. In response, the Ministry of National Defense summoned Nikolai Marchenko, the Russian defense attaché in South Korea, in the afternoon to strongly protest and demand prevention of recurrence. This is the first summon of the Russian defense attaché since 2019. A Ministry of National Defense official noted, "We will actively respond to aircraft from neighboring countries in the KADIZ to safeguard our airspace."

Earlier, on the 15th, when nine Russian military aircraft entered the KADIZ, the Joint Chiefs of Staff noted, "As a result of communicating with the Russian side, it was confirmed that the purpose was training and there was no intent to violate our airspace." However, on that day, the military did not respond to communications and flew close to our airspace, which is said to have prompted the Ministry of National Defense to summon the attaché.

The continued entry of Russian military aircraft into the KADIZ appears to be for training purposes.

A defense identification zone is an arbitrary line established to identify military aircraft approaching a nation's airspace early and respond accordingly. It is a different concept from the airspace, which is a matter of national sovereignty. Military aircraft entering the defense identification zone of another country are expected to submit a flight plan in advance and notify the location upon entry, which is an international practice.