October 15, 2019
Japan Ministry of Defense
1. New Zealand has decided to engage in monitoring and surveillance activities for the second time since last year by aircraft against illicit maritime activities, including ship-to-ship transfers with North Korean-flagged vessels prohibited by the United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs), based in Kadena Air Base under the Agreement Regarding the Status of the United Nations Forces in Japan, from mid October.
2. Japan welcomes these activities from the viewpoint of ensuring effective implementation of the relevant UNSCRs while maintaining the solidarity of the international community for the realization of North Korea’s dismantlement of all Weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles of all ranges in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner.
3. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force are also conducting information gathering activities for vessels suspected to be in violation of the UNSCRs, and Japan will work closely with related countries.
Monitoring and surveillance activities by partner countries
(1) Patrol Aircraft
Partner countries, in addition to the U.S., have engaged in monitoring and surveillance activities based in Kadena Air Base by aircraft.
・Canada : from the end of April 2018 for a month
from the end of September 2018 for a month and a half
from the beginning of June 2019 for a month, and from early October
・Australia : from the end of April 2018 for a month
from the middle of September 2018 for a month and a half
from the beginning of December 2018 for a week
from the beginning of May 2019 for a month, and
from early September 2019 for a month
・New Zealand : from the middle of September 2018 for a month and a half
・France : from the middle of March 2019 for three weeks
(2) Naval vessels
Naval vessels of partner countries have engaged in monitoring and surveillance activities in waters surrounding Japan including the East China Sea.
・the U.S. :multiple naval vessels
・the U.K. :British Royal Navy Frigate SUTHERLAND (the middle of May 2018)
British Royal Navy Flagship ALBION (from the middle of May to the beginning of June 2018)
British Royal Navy Frigate ARGYLL (the middle of December 2018 and the beginning of January 2019)
British Royal Navy Frigate MONTROSE (from the end of February to the beginning of March 2019)
・Canada :Royal Canadian Navy frigate CALGARY (the beginning and the end of ctober 2018)
Royal Canadian Navy frigate REGINA (from the middle of June 2019)
Naval Replenishment Unit ASTÉRIX (the beginning and the end of October 2018,from the middle of June 2019)
Royal Canadian Navy frigate OTTAWA (from the end of August 2019)
・Australia :Royal Australian Navy frigate MELBOURNE (the beginning of October 2018 and the beginning of May 2019)
・France :French Navy frigate Vendémiaire (spring in 2019)