Russia's Ministry of Defense on Tuesday denied that its strategic bombers had violated the Republic of Korea (ROK) air space and accused ROK jets of carrying out dangerous maneuvers that threatened its aircraft, the RIA news agency reported.
Defense officials in Seoul said earlier that the ROK air force had fired hundreds of warning shots at a Russian military aircraft that entered ROK airspace near the disputed Dokdo islets — which are also claimed by Japan — the first such violation since Korean War hostilities ended in 1953.
But Russia's defense ministry denied the claim and said ROK pilots had not communicated with the Russian bombers.
This was not the first time that ROK pilots had interfered with a Russian military flight over neutral waters, the ministry said.
"Two Tu-95 strategic bombers of Russia's aerospace forces carried out a planned flight in the airspace above the neutral waters of the Sea of Japan," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Russia's acting Deputy Chief of Mission Maxim Volkov (R) is summoned after a Russian military aircraft entered ROK airspace in Seoul, ROK, July 23, 2019. /VCG Photo.
It was the first time a Russian military aircraft had violated ROK airspace, an official at the Ministry of National Defense in Seoul said.
The ROK's top security adviser Chung Eui-yong lodged a strong objection with Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of the Security Council of Russia on Tuesday, asking the council to assess the incident and take appropriate action, ROK's presidential office said.
"We take a very grave view of this situation and, if it is repeated, we will take even stronger action," Chung said, according to the office.
The ROK's Foreign Ministry plans to summon acting Russian Deputy Chief of Mission Maxim Volkov on Tuesday to lodge a stern protest and strongly urge Russia to prevent a recurrence, ministry spokesman Kim In-chul said.
The Russian aircraft was an A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft, an official at ROK's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. The ROK scrambled F-15 and F-16 fighter jets in response to the intrusions.
The ROK jets fired around 360 rounds of ammunition during the incident, the JCS official said.
The disputed Dokdo islets, which are called Takeshima in Japan. /VCG Photo.
"The South Korean military took tactical action, including dropping flares and firing warning shots," the defense ministry said.
A ROK defense official said that the Russian aircraft did not respond in a threatening way.
The Russian aircraft left ROK airspace but then entered it again about 20 minutes later, prompting the ROK to fire more warning shots.
The ministry said ROK warplanes "conducted a normal response" to the incursion, without giving further details.
(Cover: Russian Tupolev Tu-95 turboprop-powered strategic bombers fly above the Kremlin during a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade in Moscow on May 4, 2018. /VCG Photo)