South Korea scrambled 80 fighter jets, including advanced F-35 stealth fighters, after nearly 180 North Korean aircraft were detected flying within North Korean territory, the country officials said.
North Korea’s aerial exercises came after it test-fired around 30 ballistic missiles over the two previous days, including an intercontinental ballistic missile on Thursday that triggered evacuation warnings in Japan.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff on Friday told that the North Korean warplanes were detected in various areas along the country’s eastern and western coasts – north of the inter-Korean border, the Military Demarcation Line between the two Koreas over a period of four hours.
None of the planes, however, come particularly close to the “tactical action line” which is located 20-50km (12-31 miles) north of both the countries’ land and sea boundaries.
Previously, 10 North Korean warplanes made similar maneuvers last month, provoking South Korean military to scramble jets.
The North’s aircraft drills follow the firing of more than 80 rounds of artillery overnight and the launch of multiple missiles into the sea on Thursday, including a possible failed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
Tensions in the Korean Peninsula began rising when the “Vigilant Storm” joint military drills began between the United States and South Korea, involving hundreds of aircraft including F-35s and thousands of service members from both countries. North Korea accused the allies of provocative action.
North Korea fired at least 23 missiles on Wednesday — a record in a single day. After the tests, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin accused North Korea of “irresponsible and reckless activities.”