February 19, 2020
Japan Ministry of Japan
1. Australia has decided to engage in monitoring and surveillance activities for the sixth time since 2018 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), using Kadena Air Base under the Agreement Regarding the Status of the United Nations Forces in Japan, from mid February.
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.