Fri Sep 13 13:16:00 UTC 2024: ## Russian Military Planes Prompt Joint Aerial Response from Japan and South Korea

**TOKYO/SEOUL** – Two Russian Tu-142 Bear F aircraft, known for their anti-submarine warfare capabilities, have sparked a joint aerial response from Japan and South Korea after entering both nations’ air defense identification zones (ADIZs). The incident comes amidst ongoing joint military drills between Russia and China in the Far East.

The Japanese Defense Ministry’s Joint Staff Office observed the Russian planes traversing Japan’s ADIZ, while South Korean reports confirmed the same aircraft entered their ADIZ while circumnavigating Japan. In response, fighter jets were scrambled by both Japanese and South Korean forces.

This incident highlights the heightened tensions in the region, particularly concerning the disputed Kuril Islands, claimed by Japan but currently controlled by Russia. The Russian defense ministry recently announced that eight anti-submarine aircraft, including Bear F planes, conducted a simulated enemy submarine search in the Sea of Japan, further escalating tensions.

The Bear F planes, with a range of 7,456 miles, were tracked as they navigated from the Sea of Japan through the Tsushima Strait, past the Ryukyu Islands, and then into the Philippine Sea. They then changed course towards Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost major island, before returning to the Russian Far East via the La Perouse Strait.

These incursions into ADIZs come amidst dual maritime and aerial drills by Russia in its Far East district, alongside China, including the ongoing Northern/Interaction-2024 exercise in the Seas of Japan and Okhotsk. China is also participating in the Ocean-2024 strategic exercise with Russia, which began on Tuesday and is set to last a week, with operations extending into the Pacific Ocean.

The incident underscores the growing military activity in the region and the potential for escalation as tensions between Russia and its neighbors continue. It also highlights the close cooperation between Japan and South Korea in responding to security threats.

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