Russia wants probe on alleged South Korean airspace violation

SEOUL, South Korea – A lawmaker cites Russia’s acting ambassador as saying Russia wants an investigation into a South Korean announcement that a Russia military plane has violated its airspace.

This image released by Joint Staff, Ministry of Defense, shows Russian A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft flying near the Korean-controlled island called Takeshima in Japanese Tuesday, July 23, 2019. Japan has protested to Russia for allegedly violating Japanese airspace and to South Korea for firing warning shots there. (Joint Staff, Ministry of Defense via AP)

Seoul says South Korean fighter jets fired 360 rounds of warning shots to drive away the Russian reconnaissance plane that entered its airspace twice Tuesday.

Russia has denied that.

Yoon Sang-hyun, chairman of the South Korean parliament’s foreign affairs committee, quotes Russia’s acting ambassador in Seoul, Maxim Volkov, as saying Russia feels “regrettable” over the incident.

Yoon cites Volkov as saying Russia thinks an investigation is necessary and has requested related South Korean information.

Russia says two of its bombers were on a routine flight over neutral waters and didn’t violate South Korea’s airspace. /gsg