Japanese warplanes use flares to warn intruding Russian spy plane

TOKYO, Japan: Japanese warplanes deployed flares on Tuesday to warn a Russian reconnaissance aircraft that had breached northern Japan's airspace, prompting strong protests from Tokyo.

Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara stated that the Russian Il-38 plane entered Japan's airspace above Rebun Island, near Hokkaido, three times during its five-hour flight, with each violation lasting up to a minute. The incid