The zone incorporates airspace claimed by both China and Japan
The Korean government yesterday announced its plans to expand its 62-year-old air defense identification zone (ADIZ), which overlaps with remote islands declared by China and Japan under similar zones.
The move, intended to counter Beijing’s unilateral declaration of a newly mapped East China Sea ADIZ on Nov. 23 that incorporates areas claimed by Korea and Japan, may only serve to further escalate tensions regarding air space in a region already riddled with territorial disputes.
Korea will expand the southern boundary of its ADIZ to incorporate waters 250 kilometers (155 miles) south of Ieodo, which will also coincide with its flight information region (FIR), a specific airspace set by the International Civil Aviation Organization in which flight information and alert services are provided. An ADIZ that is aligned with the FIR was considered most ideal in the planning process.
Kim Min-seok, a spokesman of the Ministry of National Defense, said that Korea consulted with the United States, China and Japan about its plans before making the announcement.
Korea’s air defense identification zone (KADIZ), he added, was expanded “taking into consideration military air operations, the [flight information region], in accordance to aviation law, and bilateral relations.”
The KADIZ expansion is slated to take effect on Dec. 15, the Ministry of National Defense confirmed yesterday, adding that an additional seven days will be needed for preparations and to notify relevant authorities.
Full article: Korea expands its ADIZ (J Korea JooAng Daily)
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