ISTANBUL

The head of US Forces Korea expressed regret after a recent US air exercise triggered a protest from South Korea following a rare encounter with Chinese fighter jets over the Yellow Sea, local media reported Wednesday.

Gen. Xavier Brunson said South Korea had been notified about the drill but acknowledged that the country’s top defense officials were not briefed in time, according to Yonhap News.

Brunson made the remarks during a phone call with South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back after Seoul lodged a protest over the handling of the exercise.

“Gen. Xavier Brunson spoke directly with the Minister of National Defense to reiterate that notification had been provided to the Republic of Korea side and expressed regret that (the minister) and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff were not briefed in time,” US Forces Korea said in a statement.

“U.S. Forces Korea conducts regular training to maintain the highest level of readiness and ensure it can fulfill its mission. We don't make apologies for maintaining readiness,” the statement added.

US and Chinese fighter jets engaged in a brief standoff Wednesday during a US Air Force drill involving 10 F-16 fighter jets.

The F-16s reportedly flew to an area between the respective air defense identification zones of South Korea and China, prompting the Chinese military to dispatch its own fighter jets. No clash occurred.

Ahn later lodged a complaint with Brunson over what he described as insufficient prior communication about the exercise.

South Korea hosts about 28,500 US troops under a mutual defense treaty between Washington and Seoul.