TOKYO -- A Russian military patrol aircraft violated Japanese airspace off the northernmost main island of Hokkaido three times between 1 and 3 p.m. Monday, Japan's government says, prompting Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets to warn off the intruding plane using flares for the first time.
Tokyo has lodged a strong protest with Russia through diplomatic channels, calling on it to prevent a recurrence of the incident, which occurred near Rebun Island.
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