UK and Australian authorities are on the lookout for illegal bunkering or illegal ship-to-ship fuel transfer amongst other activities involving North-Korean flagged vessels, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan recently.
The ministry said both countries will engage in monitoring and surveillance activities against illicit maritime activities, including ship-to-ship transfers with North Korean-flagged vessels prohibited by the United Nations Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs).
According to a statement by the ministry, in early January, the UK Royal Navy HMS Spey conducted monitoring and surveillance activities against illicit maritime activities, including ship-to-ship transfers with North Korean-flagged vessels prohibited by the UNSCRs in waters surrounding Japan including the East China Sea. It was the 10th time for the UK Royal Navy to engage in such activities since 2018.
In another statement, the ministry said from early February to early March, Australia will engage in monitoring and surveillance activities 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. It will be the 11th time for such activities to take place since 2018.
The ministry added the Japan Coast Guard and 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.
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Photo credit: CHUTTERSNAP from Unsplash
Published: 10 February, 2023
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