Subscribe
E-Paper
 |
| This December 2013 photo shows South Korean destroyer ROKS Yulgok Yi Yi on a maritime security operation near Ieo Isaland about 149 kilometers (92 miles) south of Jeju Island. Korea Times file |
A Chinese military jet entered South Korea's air defense identification zone (KADIZ) without notice three times Saturday, according to defense officials the same day.
The aircraft entered the KADIZ, at around 8:03 a.m. near Ieo Island and exited at 8:27 a.m. the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.
It re-entered the KADIZ at 9:34 a.m. near the southeastern city of Pohang, and flew between Ulleung and the easternmost islets of Dokdo, eventually leaving the air defense zone at 12:51 p.m.
The JCS said this was the first time for a Chinese military plane to fly over the East Sea this year.
It also marked the first time for such an aircraft to fly between Ulleung and Dokdo.
The Air Force deployed fighter jets to track the aircraft and sent a warning message, the JSC said.
The Ministry of National Defense called in the Chinese Embassy's military attache to lodge a protest and call for measures to prevent any recurrence.
The ministry expressed concern over the military jet's entrance into the KADIZ without prior notice.
It urged Beijing to take measures to prevent any further intrusions and called for a working-level conference to set up a military hotline between the two countries.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it also called in a Chinese official from the embassy here and expressed regret while urging the taking of appropriate measures.
A section of the KADIZ overlaps with air defense zones designated by China and Japan, a source of potential tension among the regional powers.
An air defense identification zone is an area of the skies declared by a state for the early identification and location of foreign planes approaching its territory. It is not defined in any international law or treaty. (Yonhap)
