Geopolitical Tensions: South Korea Takes Swift Action, Scrambles Fighter Jets in Response to Approaching Russian and Chinese Warplanes.

On Thursday, South Korea responded by dispatching fighter jets after two Chinese and approximately four Russian warplanes briefly entered an air identification zone maintained by Seoul, escalating tensions on the heavily militarized peninsula.

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Russian and Chinese aircraft were observed in South Korea's Air Defence Identification Zone between 11:53 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. on Thursday. The six planes departed the area without entering South Korean airspace. Although the air zone is not part of South Korea's territorial airspace, aircraft are expected to identify themselves as they approach. The planes flew above waters between South Korea and Japan, in the vicinity of an island claimed by both Seoul and Tokyo.

In response to the incident, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning characterized it as "routine activity" aligned with international law during a regular press briefing in Beijing on Thursday.

This event follows a similar occurrence in June when four warplanes each from Russia and China entered the area known as KADIZ, prompting South Korea to scramble its jets.

The flights occurred amid heightened tensions as the two Koreas stepped back from a 2018 deal aimed at reducing tensions along their border. After North Korea launched a rocket into space, deploying a spy satellite last month, South Korea resumed surveillance flights, leading to threats of military action from North Korea.

Russia has sought North Korea's participation in joint military exercises with China. During a rare trip to Pyongyang in July, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu proposed joint naval drills involving China.

On Thursday, Kim Jong Un's state media criticized the US, Japan, and South Korea for their plan to launch a system to share real-time data on missile launches from North Korea, asserting that this move is pushing the region toward conflict.