Strengthening International Community's North Korea Surveillance Network... Australia Deploys Maritime Patrol Aircraft to Japan

"Preventing Illegal Transshipment Between North Korean Vessels"

The North Korean oil tanker Namsan 8 suspected of engaging in illegal ship-to-ship transfer in the East China Sea on December 16 last year.

Australia plans to deploy maritime patrol aircraft to Japan next week to monitor and block North Korea's illegal ship-to-ship transfers, according to a report by Voice of America (VOA) on the 20th.

In a press release dated the 19th (local time), the Australian Department of Defense stated, "To prevent illegal ship-to-ship transfers by North Korean vessels, we will deploy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to Japan next week."

The Australian Department of Defense explained that this measure is "to support international efforts to implement United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea."

The Australian Air Force's Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft will conduct aerial surveillance based at the Kadena U.S. Air Force Base in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.

Australian Defense Minister Linda Reynolds said, "Australia, together with partner countries, is maintaining pressure on North Korea to comply with UN Security Council sanctions through aerial and maritime patrols," adding, "This deployment of maritime patrol aircraft also expresses our commitment to maintaining security and order in the region."

According to the Australian Department of Defense, Australia has deployed maritime patrol aircraft five times and naval escort ships three times since 2018 to monitor sanctions against North Korea. On the same day, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed Australia's sixth aerial surveillance operation scheduled to take place in Japan next week.

International monitoring activities against North Korea's illegal ship-to-ship transfers are measures in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2875 and 2397, adopted in 2017.

Each country is obligated to seize, inspect, freeze, and detain vessels suspected of involvement in prohibited activities when they enter their ports. They also have the authority to seize, inspect, freeze, and detain suspicious vessels within their territorial waters.

Currently, seven countries including Australia, the United States, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, France, and Canada are dispatching patrol aircraft and escort ships to monitor North Korean vessels' illegal ship-to-ship transfers.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.