Korean Peninsula
A visible presence
The international community, including New Zealand, maintain a continuous presence on and around the Korean Peninsula in the interests of regional security. The Royal New Zealand Air Force is part of this work.
New Zealand has long supported the maintenance of peace and security on the Korean Peninsula as part of international efforts to address regional security issues. New Zealand contributes to the international community's efforts to achieve the full implementation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, and supports the goal of the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearisation of North Korea.
An Air Warfare Officer at work during a patrol on a P-3K2 Orion aircraft.
Because of North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programme, the UNSC has imposed sanctions against the country. To help monitor the sanctions and support international efforts, the Royal New Zealand Air Force have conducted multiple deployments of a P-3K2 Orion maritime patrol aircraft based out of Japan. Our aircraft operates over international waters, to detect and deter illicit ship-to-ship transfers of sanctioned cargo and other practices that contravene the UNSC sanctions.
During 2021, we carried out these patrols for the fourth time, locating vessels of interest and looking to detect any evasions of sanctions such as illicit ship-to-ship transfers of sanctioned goods such as oil and coal. Activities of interest spotted by the aircrew are recorded and passed on to the relevant authorities.