Yonhapnews Agency

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   Two Russian patrol aircraft violated South Korea's air defense zone over the East Sea on Wednesday, but turned back after a warning from Air Force fighter jets, the Joint Chief of Staff (JCS) here said.

   "Two IL-38 maritime patrol planes entered into the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) over the East Sea at around 8:40 a.m., and stayed there for about an hour," a JCS officer said.

   Two F-15K fighter jets were scrambled to the area and sent a radio warning to force the planes to retreat, he added.

   This year alone, Russian aircraft have violated the KADIZ around 20 times, the officer noted, adding that the South's military sends fighters for surveillance and to deter such movements when detected.

   Russia's defense ministry has not yet made any official comments on the incident.

   The air defense zone was first drawn in 1951 by the U.S. Air Force during the 1950-53 Korean War to prevent air clashes between nations surrounding the Korean Peninsula. Last year, Seoul expanded it to counter China's unilateral decision to expand its own to cover a reef and other islands off the southern coast.

   The air zone is not part of a country's air space and not bound by international law.

   SEOUL, May 21 (Yonhap)
   graceoh@yna.co.kr
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