Luftromskrigen i Asia

South Korea expands air defense zone in reaction to China

By Saeed Ahmed, CNN

December 8, 2013 -- Updated 0931 GMT (1731 HKT)

A South Korean military guard post is seen overlooking the disputed waters of the Yellow Sea.

(CNN) -- In a move that is certain to anger China, South Korea has expanded its air defense zone to include an area claimed by both countries.

Last month, China declared an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea and declared that planes flying through it needed to file flight plans.

The Chinese zone covers a disputed submerged rock in the Yellow Sea, known by Korea as Ieodo and by China as Suyan.

Thumbing its nose at China's flight plan demand, South Korea first sent planes into the area without notifying China

China expresses regret over expanded South Korean air zone

By Katie Hunt, CNN

December 10, 2013 -- Updated 0440 GMT (1240 HKT)

A man looks at Chinese aircraft on display during a visit to a museum in Beijing on November 29.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• China has voiced "regret" over South Korea's decision to expand its air defense zone.
• The expanded zone includes an area claimed by both countries.
• China newly declared air defense zone has raised tensions in the region

Hong Kong (CNN) -- China has expressed "regret" over South Korea's decision to expand its air defense zone to include an area claimed by both countries, the country's official Xinhua news agency has reported.

South Korea's move came after China declared an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea last month. The Chinese zone covers a disputed reef, called the Suyan rock by China and Ieodo by South Korea.

China's foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said on Monday that the two countries had maintained communication over the zones.

"The Air Defense Identification Zone is not territorial airspace. It is established by a country in public airspace outside its territorial airspace for identification and early-warning. It has nothing to do with maritime and air jurisdiction," he said.