Fighter jets scrambled as 11 Russian and Chinese warplanes fly through South Korea's air defense zone

South Korea's military said Friday it scrambled fighter jets as five Chinese and six Russian military planes flew through its air defense zone, an area wider than the country's airspace.

Five Chinese and six Russian military aircraft entered and exited the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone in the East Sea and South Sea from 9:35 am (0035 GMT) to 1:53 pm, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

But the planes crossed into the KADIZ "without violating South Korean airspace", the JCS said, adding that the military "identified the aircraft before they entered KADIZ and deployed Air Force fighter jets to take tactical measures in preparation for any contingencies."