The government has confirmed it will continue its deployments to support sanctions against North Korea, with defence force personnel to operate out of Kadena Air Base in Japan.
Photo: NZDF / Supplied
The deployment will be the fifth since 2018 and supports the United Nations Security Council sanctions on North Korea.
Defence Minister Peeni Henare said this particular deployment aimed to detect and deter actions that directly contravened the Security Council's sanctions on North Korea, such as ship-to-ship transfers of illicit material at sea.
"New Zealand will also have the opportunity to work in close co-ordination with a number of like-minded partners through these continued efforts," he said.
The Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion (P-3) aircraft being deployed would conduct maritime air patrols over international waters in North Asia during November.
The UNSC resolutions were adopted unanimously between 2006 and 2017 and aim to persuade North Korea to denuclearise and abandon its ballistic missile capabilities.
Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta said New Zealand was committed to supporting the maintenance of peace and security on the Korean Peninsula.
"Our deployments are part of ongoing international efforts to fully implement United Nations Security Council resolutions. They support the goal of the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearisation of North Korea."
The NZDF personnel deploying would comply with all Covid-19 protocols upon arrival in Japan, and again on their return to New Zealand.
