(LEAD) 6 Chinese, Russian military aircraft enter S. Korea's air defense zone: JCS

▲ This file graphic shows Russian and Chinese aircraft entering South Korea's air defense identification zone. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) China-Russia-air defense zone

(LEAD) 6 Chinese, Russian military aircraft enter S. Korea's air defense zone: JCS

(ATTN: RECASTS throughout with details; ADDS byline)

By Chae Yun-hwan

SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- Two Chinese and four Russian military aircraft entered South Korea's air defense identification zone (KADIZ) in the East Sea without notice Thursday, Seoul's military said, prompting the South to send its fighter jets to the scene.

Between 11:53 a.m. and 12:10 p.m., the Chinese and Russian aircraft entered the KADIZ from north of the eastern island of Ulleung and exited it from east of the easternmost islets of Dokdo, according to an official at Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

The aircraft did not violate South Korea's air space, the official added.

The JCS said it had detected the Chinese and Russian aircraft before their entry into the KADIZ and mobilized the Air Force's fighter jets to take tactical measures against a contingency.

The air defense zone is not territorial airspace but is delineated to call on foreign planes to identify themselves so as to prevent accidental clashes.

The JCS official said South Korea protested about the incursion to China through a direct military line, while it did not make such a protest to the Russian side as the two sides do not operate such a communication line.

In June, four Chinese and four Russian military planes entered the southern and eastern parts of the KADIZ, according to the JCS.

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