NEWS || The Government has announced its decision to deploy a Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion aircraft and crew who are highly trained in maritime surveillance to support international efforts to monitor sanctions against North Korea. We are ready to respond to international efforts to maintain peace and security in the region.

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) will deploy a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-3K2 Orion and crew to support international efforts to monitor sanctions against North Korea.

The Government announced today its decision to provide airborne surveillance to support the implementation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions imposing sanctions against North Korea.

Commander Joint Forces New Zealand Rear Admiral Jim Gilmour said the NZDF was ready to respond to international efforts to maintain peace and security in the region.

A P-3K2 Orion and personnel had also been deployed in 2018 to support UNSC resolutions imposing sanctions against North Korea.

Air Component Commander Air Commodore Tim Walshe said the RNZAF P-3K2 Orion was well suited to maritime surveillance and patrol activities, and routinely carried out surveillance and reconnaissance, including for fisheries patrols, and search and rescue operations.

During the deployment the crew would look to detect evasions of sanctions, such as through illicit ship-to-ship transfers of sanctioned goods, Air Commodore Walshe said.

Patrols by the P-3K2 Orion, which would be based in Japan for the deployment, would be over international waters in North Asia, he said.