Members from No. 11 Squadron carry out a mission on a P-8A Poseidon during Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20. The mission flew over 10 hours and included surveillance of the Victorian alpine region, country New South Wales and Kangaroo Island in South Australia. Photo by Corporal Brenton Kwaterski.

Poseidon on North Korea sanctions monitoring

19/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2280 Views 0 Comments Operation Argos

Australia is deploying a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol aircraft in support of international effort to enforce United Nations Security Council sanctions on North Korea.

FILE PHOTO (January 2020): Members from No. 11 Squadron carry out a mission on a P-8A Poseidon during Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20. The mission flew over 10 hours and included surveillance of the Victorian alpine region, country New South Wales and Kangaroo Island in South Australia. Photo by Corporal Brenton Kwaterski.

The aircraft will deploy within the next week on Operation Argos, marking the first Australian Defence Force contribution to the operation for 2020.

Operating out of Kadena Airbase in Japan, the Poseidon aircraft will conduct airborne surveillance to monitor and deter illegal ship-to-ship transfers.

Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds said Australia’s commitment to the enforcement of United Nations Security Council sanctions on North Korea was key to stability in the region.

“This deployment demonstrates our commitment to regional security and the rules-based order,” Minister Reynolds said.

“We rely on a stable North East Asia as part of a free, open and economically prosperous wider Indo-Pacific region.

“Along with our international partners, Australia continues to maintain pressure on North Korea to adhere to United Nations Security Council sanctions through our dedicated air and maritime patrols.”

The Poseidon aircraft and its crew will deploy from No. 11 Squadron at RAAF Base Edinburgh.

Since the commencement of Operation Argos in 2018 the ADF has deployed maritime patrol aircraft on five occasions, and naval frigates on three occasions.

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