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South Korea fires warning shots at Russian military aircraft South Korea fires warning shots at Russian military aircraft
(32 minutes later)
South Korea fired warning shots at a Russian A-50 military aircraft that entered its airspace on Tuesday, its Ministry of Defence said. South Korea says its jets fired hundreds of warning shots at a Russian surveillance plane that entered its airspace on Tuesday.
Officials said the plane violated the airspace over the Dokdo/Takeshima islands, which are occupied by Seoul but also claimed by Japan. Officials said the plane twice violated the airspace over the Dokdo/Takeshima islands, which are occupied by Seoul but also claimed by Japan.
South Korea's Ministry of Defence said it scrambled fighter jets in response and fired 360 warning shots.South Korea's Ministry of Defence said it scrambled fighter jets in response and fired 360 warning shots.
Russia has denied violating the country's airspace.Russia has denied violating the country's airspace.
It says it was carrying out a planned drill over international waters. Moscow said two of its bombers carried out a planned drill over "neutral waters" and denied any warning shots were fired by South Korean jets.
This is the first incident of its kind between Russia and South Korea.This is the first incident of its kind between Russia and South Korea.
What does South Korea say happened?What does South Korea say happened?
South Korea's military said the aircraft was one of three Russian and two Chinese military warplanes that entered the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ), where overseas aircraft must identify themselves beforehand, on Tuesday morning. South Korea's military said the aircraft was one of three Russian and two Chinese military aircraft that entered the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) on Tuesday morning.
Overseas aircraft must identify themselves before entering the KADIZ.
Russian and Chinese bombers and reconnaissance planes have occasionally entered the zone in recent years.Russian and Chinese bombers and reconnaissance planes have occasionally entered the zone in recent years.
However, South Korea said one of the Russian planes flew further and entered the country's territorial airspace at around 09:00 local time (00:00 GMT). However, South Korea said one of the Russian planes - an A-50 reconnaissance aircraft - flew further and entered the country's territorial airspace at around 09:00 local time (00:00 GMT).
South Korean F-15k and F-16k planes were deployed to intercept it. South Korean F-15 and F-16 planes were deployed to intercept it.
The head of South Korea's National Security Office, Chung Eui-yong, has lodged a strong objection with the Security Council of Russia, and asked the council to take appropriate action.The head of South Korea's National Security Office, Chung Eui-yong, has lodged a strong objection with the Security Council of Russia, and asked the council to take appropriate action.
"We take a very grave view of this situation and, if it is repeated, we will take even stronger action," the South Korean president's office quoted Mr Chung as saying."We take a very grave view of this situation and, if it is repeated, we will take even stronger action," the South Korean president's office quoted Mr Chung as saying.
There has been no comment from China.There has been no comment from China.
So was this a mistake? Did this Russian plane accidentally stray into South Korean territory?
Officials in South Korea said it was an A-50 aircraft, a type of warning and control plane that is capable of carrying out surveillance and tracking targets on the ground and in the air.
It encroached on South Korean territorial airspace not just once - but twice.
It is also worth noting that the Russian aircraft appeared to have been taking part in exercises with the Chinese. In recent years, Seoul has become increasingly concerned about China's incursion in its airspace, including the use of spy planes, and has raised the issue with Beijing.
Last year, China's People's Liberation Army took part in Russia's large-scale VOSTOK military exercises for the first time. It was a chance to show off their alliance and combined strength. They have done that again now, over the Korean peninsula - perhaps either testing or prodding a US ally, just as Donald Trump's National Security Advisor John Bolton arrives in Seoul.
Flying over Dokdo is controversial. The island is occupied by South Korea but also claimed by Japan, which calls it Takeshima. The two sides are also currently locked in an escalating and bitter trade dispute.
This incident may demonstrate just how isolated South Korea could be in the region - but also that Seoul will take action to defend its territory when provoked.