A dozen North Korean fighter jets flew over an area near the border with South Korea on Thursday, which in turn sent aircraft, according to the Yonhap news agency, amid missile tests by Pyongyang .
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The incident, the second in a week involving fighter jets, comes amid growing military tensions on the peninsula, as North Korea has carried out a series of missile launches lately, including on Thursday.
According to the South Korean General Staff, quoted by the Yonhap news agency, ten fighter jets were detected flying 25 kilometers north of the border between the two states between 11:30 p.m. Thursday and 12:20 a.m. Friday local time. The North Korean planes crossed a “reconnaissance line”, triggering an automatic response from the South, according to the same source.
Seoul then sent fighter jets, including F-35As, according to the general staff, Yonhap added.
This episode comes shortly following the test of two long-range strategic cruise missiles by Pyongyang on Wednesday, announced by the North Korean official press, which specifies that these tests were supervised by the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
On Thursday, North Korea fired a new unidentified ballistic missile, according to the South Korean News Agency.
Pyongyang described its recent missile tests as nuclear tactical exercises, simulating strikes on airports and military installations in South Korea.