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New Zealand reports possible North Korea sanctions breaches at sea
- New Zealand’s military said on April 28 its spy plane had spotted an at-sea transfer of illicit goods as part of its monitoring of North Korean attempts to evade international sanctions.The Royal New Zealand Airforce Air Commodore Andy Scott said the P-8A Poseidon aircraft had spotted the potential sanctions-busting in the Yellow Sea, which lies between China and the Korean peninsula, and the East China Sea.In addition to the “possible ship-to-ship transfer of illicit goods”, New Zealand also reported 35 vessels of interest to the United Nations.“The upholding of international law is critically important for regional security and we are proud of our ability to contribute to this important work,” Air Commodore Scott said.North Korea is subject to multiple United Nations sanctions banning its nuclear weapons development and use of ballistic missile technology – restrictions it has repeatedly flouted.The New Zealand military has patrolled the Yellow and East China seas since 2018 as part of multilateral efforts to enforce those sanctions.It said it reported vessels suspected of trafficking refined petroleum to North Korea, as well as exports of commodities such as coal, sand and iron ore used by Pyongyang to fund its nuclear weapons programme.China complained in April that the New Zealand patrols amounted to “disruptive and irresponsible” surveillance in Chinese airspace.Beijing accused an aircraft of engaging in “close-in reconnaissance and harassment in the airspace” in the Yellow and East China seas.Wellington dismissed Beijing’s complaints. AFP
New Zealand spy plane reports possible North Korea sanctions breach at ...
New Zealand’s Defence Force says a North Korean ship was observed engaging in a possible transfer of illicit goods at sea.New Zealand’s military said a surveillance aircraft observed what it suspected was North Korea breaking international sanctions in a “possible ship-to-ship transfer of illicit goods”, while conducting monitoring over the Yellow Sea and East China Sea.New Zealand’s Defence Force said on Tuesday that the exchange of goods at sea between vessels was captured by one of its long-range P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft in international waters near North Korea.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Mexico’s Jalisco drug cartel commander ‘El Jardinero’ found hiding in ditchlist 2 of 4Italy extradites Chinese cyber-espionage suspect to USlist 3 of 4Suspect in press gala shooting charged with attempting to kill Trumplist 4 of 414 killed in South Sudan plane crash near capital Jubaend of listThe exchange was observed among 35 “vessels of interest” in the area while its surveillance aircraft was patrolling for possible North Korean violations of United Nations sanctions at sea, the Defence Force said.“The evidence captured of activities that were occurring in the East China and Yellow Seas allows authorities to take action against ships that may still be operating in contravention of [UN resolutions],” New Zealand’s Air Component Commander, Air Commodore Andy Scott, said in a statement.New Zealand did not disclose what goods were transferred in the exchange on the high seas.North Korea typically uses ships to smuggle refined petroleum imports and to export its coal, iron ore and sand, which help fund its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, New Zealand said.North Korea has been under UN sanctions since 2006 after carrying out its first nuclear weapons test, according to the Centre for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.UN sanctions were significantly expanded in 2016 and 2017 to include a range of exports and ship-to-ship transfers.Despite the restrictions, North Korea continues to trade goods with a handful of countries.Its main customer is China, but it has also been known to sell weapons to Iran and Russia in exchange for oil or hard currency, according to the Georgetown Security Studies Review.New Zealand has been a member of the US-led Pacific Security Maritime Exchange since 2018, which monitors North Korea’s violation of international sanctions through smuggling and illicit maritime activity.
NZ Air Force spots possible North Korea sanctions breach at sea
The Defence Force says one of its aircraft has observed a possible at-sea transfer of illicit goods, in breach of sanctions against North Korea. The possible ship-to-ship transfer was recorded by a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea, an area where evasions of United Nations sanctions by North Korea occurred. On Tuesday, Air Component Commander ...
NZDF reports possible North Korea sanctions breaches at sea
The Defence Force (NZDF) said Tuesday its spy plane had spotted an at-sea transfer of illicit goods as part of its monitoring of North Korean attempts to evade international sanctions. Royal New Zealand Airforce Air Commodore Andy Scott said the P-8A Poseidon aircraft had spotted the potential sanctions busting in the Yellow Sea and East...
