South Korea military says Russian, Chinese military planes did not violate South Korea airspace - Yonhap

South Korea’s military confirmed that nine Chinese and Russian military aircraft briefly entered the country’s Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, but did not violate its sovereign airspace. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported that two Chinese and seven Russian aircraft entered the KADIZ at around 10 a.m. local time, prompting South Korean Air Force fighter jets as a precautionary measure. The aircraft, which included bombers and fighter jets, entered and exited the zone for approximately an hour before fully retreating.

The KADIZ is not considered sovereign airspace under international law but serves as a buffer zone to identify and monitor foreign aircraft to prevent accidental clashes. This incident follows a pattern of similar activities by Chinese and Russian military aircraft since 2019, often conducted during joint exercises without prior notification. China’s Defense Ministry later confirmed the joint patrol as part of its “annual cooperation plan” with Russia.

South Korea lodged a formal complaint with Chinese and Russian defense attaches, emphasizing its commitment to responding to such activities in accordance with international law.