Monitoring and surveillance activities by partner countries against illicit maritime activities including ship-to-ship transfers

April 28, 2018

Japan Ministry of Defense

１．Partner countries, in addition to the U.S., have decided to engage in monitoring and surveillance activities against illicit maritime activities, including ship-to-ship transfers with North Korean-flagged vessels prohibited by UNSCRs, based in Kadena Air Base. At present, Australia and Canada are planning to deploy patrol aircraft and engage in the activities subject to UN SOFA.

２．On April 10, 2018, the U.K. Ministry of Defence announced that British Royal Navy Frigate HMS Sutherland will be contributing to the international efforts to monitor prohibited trading at sea by the DPRK.

３．Japan welcomes these activities from the view point of upholding the maximum pressure on North Korea while maintaining the solidarity of international community including the full implementation of the relevant UNSCRs for the realization of North Korea’s dismantlement of all WMD and ballistic missiles in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner.

４．The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force is also conducting information gathering activities for vessels suspected to be in the violation of UNSCRs, and Japan will work closely with related countries.