RAAF Poseidon sent on North Korea-sanctions mission again

Defence has deployed a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft on Operation Argos as part of Australia’s commitment to enforcing United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions on North Korea.

FILE PHOTO: A No.11 Squadron P-8A Poseidon takes off from RAAF Base Darwin for a sortie on Ex Kakadu 2022. Photo by Sergeant Pete Gammie.

Australia supports UNSC sanctions through the deployment of maritime patrol aircraft and Royal Australian Navy vessels.

The P-8A Poseidon will operate from Kadena Airbase in Japan, conducting airborne surveillance to monitor and deter illegal ship-to-ship transfers of sanctioned goods in the region.

Since 2018, Australia has deployed RAAF maritime patrol aircraft on 11 occasions and RAN vessels eight times in support of the operation.

Chief of Joint Operations Lieutenant General Greg Bilton said operation Argos reinforced Australia’s commitment to nuclear non-proliferation and directly contributed to maintaining the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region alongside Australia’s partner nations.

“Australia remains committed to enforcing UN Security Council sanctions and our own sanctions against North Korea,” Lieutenant General Bilton said.

“This operation is Australia’s contribution to a multinational effort, alongside Canada, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States, who all conduct operations in support of UN Security Council resolutions.”

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