Russian strategic nuclear bombers taking part in large-scale military
exercises flew practice strike missions in the western Pacific on
Monday and were intercepted by Japanese fighters, according to Japanese
and Russian officials.
The bomber flights were the latest case of strategic saber rattling
by Moscow and followed what U.S. defense officials said earlier this
year were practice-bombing runs against U.S. and Japanese military bases
in the region.
Japan's Joint Staff said Monday that three Japanese fighters were
scrambled to intercept the Tu-95 Bear H bombers that were detected
flying north near the Korean peninsula and Japan's northern Hokkaido
Island.
A third Russian aircraft, an Il-20, flew over the disputed Kuril Islands controlled by Russia but claimed by Japan.
The bombers flew over the Sea of Japan for a total of seven hours and
15 minutes, the military said in a statement carried by Kyodo News
Agency.
The bomber flight was part of one of Russia's largest military exercises, which is currently underway.
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