Japan scrambles jets as Russia aircraft circle country

Japan scrambled fighter jets after Russian aircraft flew around the archipelago for the first time in five years, Tokyo said Friday.

From Thursday morning to afternoon, the Russian Tu-142 aircraft flew from the sea between Japan and South Korea toward the southern Okinawa region, according to a defense ministry statement. 

They then traveled north over the Pacific Ocean and finished their journey off the northern island of Hokkaido, it added.