(Photo : NIKITA SHCHYUKIN/AFP via Getty Images)
Russia’s propeller-engined planes were said to be flying on an “intelligence-gathering” operation

Fighter jets of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force were scrambled Thursday after detecting two Ilyushin Il-20 aircraft in two separate locations. 

They alleged the planes were flying on an "intelligence-gathering" operation - one over the Sea of Okhotsk off the country's north coast, the other near Sado Island in the Sea of Japan - before heading back to the direction of Russia. 

The Japanese defense ministry provided no further information.

Incident happened post-G7 Summit

The incidents happened days after the G7 Summit in Hiroshima concluded, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise visit to the hometown and constituency of Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida. 

During the visit, Zelensky secured a defense aid package worth $375m from the United States. He also met with all of the G7 leaders and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi. 

NATO office in Japan

Meanwhile, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) recently announced its proposal to establish a liaison office in Tokyo. 

However, the Kantei clarified Japan would not enter the alliance, and NATO's Tokyo office would only facilitate consultations in the Asia-Pacific region. 

China, on the other hand, criticized the alliance's plan to build a facility in Asia. 

Chinese foreign ministry representative Mao Ning said the region "does not welcome group confrontation" or "military confrontation." She also said Japan should take extra caution on the issue of military security given its "history of aggression."