HMAS Arunta’s embarked MH-60R helicopter 'Athena' come in to land as the ship transits through the Indonesian archipelago during a regional presence deployment. Photo by Able Seaman Susan Mossop.

HMAS Arunta to patrol North Korea sanctions

28/10/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1001 Views 0 Comments Operation Argos

Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Arunta is supporting the deterrence and monitoring of illegal ship-to-ship transfers of sanctioned goods bound for North Korea in support of the Australian Defence Force’s Operation Argos.

CAPTION: HMAS Arunta’s embarked MH-60R helicopter ‘Athena’ comes in to land as the ship transits through the Indonesian archipelago on her way north (September 2022). Photo by Able Seaman Susan Mossop.

Australia is committed to enforcing United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions on North Korea through this operation, until North Korea takes concrete steps towards denuclearisation.

Deputy Chief of Joint Operations Air Vice-Marshal Michael Kitcher reinforced the need for the ADF to support this important interdiction effort with partner nations.

“Alongside Canada, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, who all conduct national operations in support of the UN in a similar manner to Australia, we are demonstrating our commitment to enforcing UNSC sanctions against North Korea,” Air Vice-Marshal Kitcher said.

“Australia is committed to upholding UNSC resolutions on North Korea in support of the international community’s goal of complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation.

“This will mark the eighth time an Australian warship takes part in Operation Argos.”

Since 2018, Australia has also deployed maritime patrol aircraft on 10 occasions.

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