March 8, 2019
Japan Ministry of Defense
１． France has decided to support the measures undertaken to enforce the UNSCRs concerning North Korea. On that purpose, France will engage in monitoring and surveillance activities by deploying aircraft Falcon 200 from the middle of March and French Navy frigate Vendémiaire this spring. Based in Kadena Air Base, in accordance with UN SOFA, the aircraft will notably observe ship-to-ship transfers with North Korean-flagged vessels prohibited by UNSCR.
(Reference) Past activities of partner countries
There are regular monitoring and surveillance activities of the U.S. patrol aircrafts and naval vessels in the airspace and sea around Japan. In addition, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand have engaged in monitoring surveillance activities with patrol aircrafts based in Kadena Base. Moreover, naval vessels of Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom have conducted similar activities.
２．Japan welcomes these activities from the view point of ensuring effective implementation of the relevant UNSCRs while maintaining the solidarity of international community for the realization of North Korea’s dismantlement of all WMD and ballistic missiles of all ranges in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner.
３．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.
