What happened when Russian military aircraft entered Korea's KADIZ near Dokdo and Ulleung Island?

They briefly entered Korea's air defense identification zone above the eastern waters and then exited. The Korean military detected them in advance and sent fighter jets, while saying the aircraft did not enter Korea's airspace.

Why did the Korean military scramble fighter jets after the Russian aircraft were detected?

The JCS said the planes were detected before entering the air defense zone, so fighter jets were deployed to prepare for possible contingencies. The KADIZ is meant to prompt foreign aircraft to identify themselves and help prevent accidental clashes.

How does this KADIZ incident compare with the late June Chinese and Russian aircraft entry?

The article says it was the latest such case after nearly 10 Chinese and Russian military aircraft briefly entered and left the KADIZ in late June. In that earlier incident, the defense ministry issued a strong protest to China and Russia.

Several Russian military aircraft briefly enter Korea's air defense zone: JCS

Listen

Summary

Several Russian military aircraft briefly entered Korea's air defense identification zone over its eastern waters on Tuesday afternoon before leaving, and the Korean military sent fighter jets in response. The aircraft were detected before entry near Dokdo and Ulleung Island, and they did not violate Korea's airspace. The incident came after a late June case in which nearly 10 Chinese and Russian military aircraft also briefly entered and left the KADIZ.

Key Facts

The Russian aircraft entered the KADIZ near Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo and nearby Ulleung Island on Tuesday afternoon.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff said the Korean military detected the aircraft before they entered the air defense zone and deployed Air Force fighter jets.
The aircraft did not violate Korea's airspace.
The article said the incident followed a late June case in which nearly 10 Chinese and Russian military aircraft briefly entered and left the KADIZ above Korea's eastern and southern waters.
The defense ministry lodged a strong protest with China and Russia over that late June unauthorized entry.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 26, 2026 9:41 am KST

Russian military's Tu-142 patrol aircraft flying in airspace over the sea near Japan, June 29. Courtesy of Japan's Ministry of Defense

Several Russian military aircraft briefly entered Korea's air defense identification zone (KADIZ) above its eastern waters before exiting, prompting the Korean military to dispatch fighter jets in response, officials said Wednesday.

The Russian military aircraft entered the KADIZ near Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo and nearby Ulleung Island on Tuesday afternoon, before retreating from the air defense zone, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

"The Korean military detected the Russian military aircraft before they entered the air defense zone and deployed Air Force fighter jets to prepare for any possible contingencies," the JCS said in a statement.

The aircraft did not violate Korea's airspace, it added.

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.

It marked the latest such incident after nearly 10 Chinese and Russian military aircraft briefly entered and left the KADIZ above the country's eastern and southern waters in late June.

The defense ministry lodged a strong protest with China and Russia over the unauthorized entry at the time.

Explore More