JNN 09 Dec 2010 : Russian jet fighters flying over the Sea of Japan have reportedly forced the US and Japanese military to halt their ongoing joint war games in the region.

According to Japanese officials, the incident took place on Monday when the US and Japanese fighter jets staged dogfight drills over the Sea of Japan.

“It is a fact that as part of the continuing Japan-US joint exercises, there was training taking place in the Sea of Japan on the sixth of this month,” Japanese government spokesman Yoshito Sengoku was quoted as saying by state-run BBC.

Russian authorities confirmed that the jets were flying above the Sea near the drills site.

“The aircraft carried out a planned flight in an area of the Russian Pacific Fleet’s regular activity,” a Russian military spokesman, Roman Markov, said.

“Our pilots did not violate any rules of international airspace.”

Moscow and Tokyo have recently locked horns over a disputed island chain they both claim.

The archipelago of some 56 islands, which are home to about 19,000 people, has been controlled by Moscow since it was seized by Soviet troops in 1945.

The incident comes as the top US and South Korean military officials have announced plans to hold more joint military exercises.

US Admiral Mike Mullen and South Korea’s General Han Min-koo held talks on the Korean peninsula in Seoul on Wednesday.

Both military officials described North Korea’s recent attack on Yeonpyeong Island as deliberate and illegal. During the meeting, Mullen gave reassurances of Washington’s commitment to defend South Korea.

Tensions are high on the Korean peninsula after last month’s deadly clash between South and North Korean forces along the Koreas’ disputed sea borders.

The fighting left four South Koreans dead with each side blaming the other for initiating the fighting.

North Korea has warned that the war games could bring the Koreas closer to the brink of war.

Pyongyang accuses US President Barack Obama of plotting with regional allies to topple the country’s government, insisting that its nuclear program is a deterrent against US forces in the region.