US AND SOUTH KOREAN FIGHTERS INTERCEPT RUSSIAN RECONN JET NEAR KOREA

PUTIN'S PROBING:

A Russian reconnaissance aircraft approached a U.S. aircraft carrier on the eastern waters off the Korean Peninsula Wednesday, entering South Korea's air defense safety zone, a military source said Thursday.

Two U.S. F/A-18 fighters from the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier participating in annual drills by South Korean and American troops successfully intercepted the Russian aircraft, a Tupolev TU-142 BEAR-F and escorted it out of the area, the source said, asking not to be named.

Four F-16 fighters of the South Korean Air Force also conducted maneuvers to support the U.S. fighters, he added.

``The U.S. military first detected the Russian aircraft and carried out counter-measures against it,'' said the source. ``Our fighters subsequently flew patrol maneuvers.''

The Russian plane came within three to five nautical miles and flew at 2,000 feet above the 97,000-ton nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, according to the source.

The Russian aircraft entered the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ), designated by the commander of the U.S. Pacific Air Force Command in 1951 to prevent clashes in the air between countries surrounding the Korean Peninsula, he said.

The zone covers the sky over the country's easternmost Dokdo islets, which Japan has laid claim to.

• LET THIS BE A REMINDER: PUTIN AND RUSSIA ARE A THREAT TO THE FREEDOM-LOVING WEST.
• WE MUST BE VERY WARY OF RUSSIA AND THEIR DEALING WITH IRAN AND SYRIA AND CHAVEZ.

PUTIN DOESN'T REALLY MIND IF HE FAILS AT HEGEMONY, BECAUSE DESTABILIZATION WORKS JUST FINE FOR HIM: HE WILL DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING TO RAISE THE PRICE OF OIL.

ROUND UP HERE.