Members of No. 11 Squadron ready to board a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon prior to departure on Operation ARGOS.
Australia remains committed to enforcing United Nations Security Council sanctions on North Korea, with the deployment of a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.
The P-8A Poseidon and crew have deployed to Kadena Airbase in Japan, marking the third time Australia has contributed to Operation ARGOS this year. Operation ARGOS supports Australia’s commitment to nuclear non-proliferation and a global rules-based order.
Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Greg Bilton said the aircraft would support international economic and diplomatic actions on North Korea.
“Australia has deployed a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft in support of the international community’s goal of the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of North Korea,” Lieutenant General Bilton said.
“The aircraft will conduct airborne surveillance to monitor and deter illegal ship-to-ship transfers.”
“This is an international effort to enforce United Nations Security Council sanctions on North Korea, with contributions from a number of countries including Canada, France, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States,” Lieutenant General Bilton said.
“Australia is committed to a stable and secure Indo-Pacific and will continue to support sanctions on North Korea until it takes concrete steps towards denuclearisation.”
This is the ninth time the ADF has deployed a maritime patrol aircraft for Operation ARGOS. Royal Australian Navy vessels have supported the operation on five occasions since it commenced in 2018.
