Australia in action on North Korea

The Australian government has said, that in line with its commitments to implement United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea, it ‘will continue working with partners to monitor and deter ship‑to-ship transfers of sanctioned goods.’

To that end, it says, Australia’s Ministry of Defence is deploying a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to Japan,’ from where it will conduct maritime surveillance operations.’

It said: ‘[S]ince 2018, Australia has supported international efforts to deter and disrupt illicit trade and sanctions evasion activities by North Korea and its associated networks.

‘Last year Australia deployed maritime patrol aircraft on three occasions, in April, September and December. Australia welcomes continued denuclearisation negotiations between the United States and North Korea. These deployments support ongoing economic and diplomatic pressure on North Korea. Australia, working with international partners, is committed to maintaining pressure on North Korea until it takes concrete steps towards complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation.’

The wording of the notice, which is near-identical to that of a notice released by the UK Royal Navy in April, would suggest that the operations – and related communications – are closely coordinated with the United Kingdom and other ‘international partners.’