Japan scrambled fighter jets after Russian military aircraft flew around the archipelago for the first time in five years, Tokyo said Friday.
From Thursday morning to afternoon, two Russian Tu-142 aircraft flew from the sea between Japan and South Korea toward Okinawa Prefecture, according to a Defense Ministry statement.
They then went northward over the Pacific Ocean to finish their journey off northern Hokkaido, it added.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.