Japan MOFA: Monitoring and surveillance activities by Canada against illicit maritime activities including ship-to-ship transfers

From mid-September to mid-October, Royal Canadian Air force long-range patrol aircraft CP-140 will engage in monitoring and surveillance activities against illicit maritime activities, including ship-to-ship transfers with North Korean-flagged vessels prohibited by 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 fourteenth time Canadian aircraft engaged in these activities since 2018.

Japan welcomes these activities from the viewpoint of ensuring effective implementation of the relevant UNSCRs in solidarity with the international community toward 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.

As Japan has also been conducting information gathering activities for vessels suspected of violating the UNSCRs, Japan works closely with relevant countries and international organizations, including Canada