Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

On February 23rd, the Ministry of National Defense summoned the Chinese defense attaché in Korea to urge the prevention of any recurrence

On February 23rd, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) lodged a strong protest against China's entry of the Republic of Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) without notice.  

“Lee Won-ik, director general of international policy at the MND, has summoned Du Nong Yi, the Chinese defense attaché in Korea, to lodge a complaint and urge China to make efforts to prevent recurrence,” the MND said. “This year, another Chinese military plane has entered the KADIZ without prior notice. Our government and people consider the Chinese plane’s long flight above a sensitive area near our territorial waters as a serious incident,” the MND statement continued. 

“We have lodged a strong protest against China to urge them to prevent the recurrence of this type of situation in the future. We have also called on China to hold working-level talks about the hotline between the two countries’ navy and air forces in order to prevent any accidental conflict, and to come up with countermeasures, including the installation of an additional hotline,” the MND added. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) also called out an official from the Chinese Embassy in Korea to file a protest against China over the entry of a Chinese military plane in the KADIZ without prior notice. The MFA’s Northeast Asia Division Director Kim Yong-gil summoned the minister counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Korea to the MFA building to express the Ministry's dissatisfaction, and called on him to prevent the recurrence of this type of situation.

The plane entered the KADIZ near Ieo Island at around 8:03 a.m., and exited at 8:27 a.m. It briefly flew inside Japan’s air defense identification zone (JADIZ) and re-entered the KADIZ at 9:34 a.m. near the southeastern city of Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province, 83km (45 miles) toward the east, and then flew between Ulleungdo Island and the easternmost islets of Dokdo Island, 111km (60 miles) toward the northeast. It then circled southwards at 10:25 a.m. and eventually left the KADIZ at 12:51 p.m.

When the unknown plane was detected by our military, the Air Force deployed fighter jets to track the aircraft and took tactical actions such as sending a warning message.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff said, “The Chinese military plane flew between the KADIZ and JADIZ for about four hours. This marks the first time a Chinese military plane has flown over the East Sea this year, and it also marked the first time a Chinese military plane had flown between Ulleungdo Island and Dokdo Island.” 

So far, no Chinese military plane has intruded Republic of Korea’s airspace. It is important to note that an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) is different from the airspace of a state. An ADIZ is an area declared by a state for the early identification of unknown foreign planes approaching its territory, and the prevention of airspace intrusions.

By Byeong-No, Yun <trylover@dema.mil.kr >

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