Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Republic of Korean Ministry of National Defense provides Russia with evidence of Russian warplane’s airspace intrusion

Ministry explained details at a working-level meeting with Russian attaches

On July 25, the Ministry of National Defense provided the Russian side with evidence of a Russian warplane’s intrusion into Republic of Korean airspace that had happened two days earlier. “Under the supervision of Lee Won-ik, director general of international policy at the ministry, we had a working-level meeting with Russian attaches, including Air Force Colonel Nikolai Marchenko, deputy military attache from the Russian Embassy. During the meeting, we provided a detailed explanation with evidence that the Russian military aircraft violated Republic of Korean airspace. The Russian side said that they will immediately send the evidence to their Defense Ministry for urgent reference in their ongoing investigation,” the ministry said in a statement.

When summoned to the Republic of Korean Ministry of National Defense immediately following the airspace intrusion, the Russian military attaches asked Republic of Korea to provide relevant details such as time, location, coordinates and screenshot photos for its investigation. In an official statement delivered from Russia to the ministry on July 24, however, Russia denied any violation of Republic of Korean airspace by its plane, and criticized the Republic of Korean fighter jets for their 'unprofessional' flight that interfered with the path of a Russian plane and threatened its safety. “The Russian argument goes against the position they expressed to us via a diplomatic channel, in which they expressed their regret and determination to accurately investigate the incident and prevent any recurrence,” the ministry commented immediately, refuting Russia's official statement. “The Russian argument is a distortion of the facts, and we have definite evidence on the incident,” the ministry also emphasized.

By Su-Yeol, Maeng <guns13@dema.mil.kr >

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