Amid tensions, South Korea scrambles jets after North Korean military plane spotted near border

SEOUL, Nov 4 (Reuters) – South Korea’s military said on Friday that it had scrambled fighter jets after about 180 North Korean military planes were spotted north of the border between the two countries in more than four hours.

The South Korean military said in a statement that the North Korean plane flew north of the so-called tactical line of action, which is north of the military demarcation line between the two Koreas. A South Korean official said the virtual line was used as a base for South Korean air defense operations.

In response, South Korea scrambled 80 aircraft, including F-35A stealth fighter jets. The military said about 240 aircraft that joined the U.S. in Exercise Vigilant Storm continued to conduct the exercise.

Last month, 10 North Korean warplanes conducted similar exercises, prompting South Korea to scramble jets.

The drills came after North Korea fired more than 80 shells into the sea overnight and fired multiple missiles into the sea on Thursday, including a potentially failed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

The launches have prompted the United States and South Korea to prolong air drills that have angered Pyongyang.

Reporting by Soo Hyang Choi; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Alex Richardson

Our Standard: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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