[Yang Nak-gyu's Defense Club] Surveillance Forces of Various Countries Tightening the Noose on North Korean Illegal Ships

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] Australia will deploy the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to Japan next week to prevent illegal ship-to-ship transfers by North Korea.

According to a press release from the Australian Department of Defense on the 19th (local time), the P-8A Poseidon will conduct aerial surveillance based at the Kadena US Air Force Base in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.

Australia's deployment of the P-8A Poseidon is a measure in line with United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2875 and 2397, adopted in 2017, as part of the international community's monitoring activities against North Korea's illegal ship-to-ship transfers. Since 2018, Australia has deployed maritime patrol aircraft five times and naval escort ships three times.

In addition to Australia, seven countries including the United States, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, France, and Canada have dispatched patrol aircraft and escort ships to monitor illegal transfers by North Korean vessels.

The United States has deployed the latest Triton (MQ-4C) unmanned reconnaissance aircraft to the 7th Fleet operational area, which covers the Pacific region including the Korean Peninsula. This deployment aims to monitor and reconnoiter not only North Korea's maritime illegal transfers but also the movements of Chinese naval vessels operating in the Pacific and South China Sea.

The US Navy's MQ-4C arrived at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, Pacific, on the 26th of last month. The MQ-4C is the naval version of the Global Hawk (RQ-4) developed by the US defense contractor Northrop Grumman. It has the capability to conduct 24-hour focused surveillance of maritime targets such as ships even in severe weather conditions. It can fly continuously for more than 24 hours at altitudes above 16 km.

Each country is increasing its capabilities because the number of North Korean vessels suspected of illegal transfers has not decreased year by year.

In December last year, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported to the UN Security Council's North Korea Sanctions Committee (Expert Panel) that the North Korean-flagged tanker 'Nam San 8' was suspected of conducting illegal ship-to-ship transfers with an unidentified small vessel in international waters of the East China Sea during the daytime on the 16th and the morning of the 17th. This is the 15th time since January last year that the Japanese government has announced a suspected case of illegal transfers by North Korean vessels.

According to the announcement by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the time, the Nam San 8 was found attached to an unidentified small vessel in international waters of the East China Sea about 290 km southeast of Shanghai, China, on the afternoon of the 16th by a P-1 patrol aircraft belonging to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's 1st Air Squadron. The following morning, a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force escort ship also discovered the Nam San 8, which appeared to be conducting illegal transfers in the same area.