A Royal New Zealand Navy Task Group has bolstered enforcement of United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea, as vessels of interest were monitored during maritime patrols on international waters in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea.
Making up the task group was the Anzac-class frigate HMNZS Te Mana and the sustainment vessel HMNZS Aotearoa, a key enabler to support long-range maritime operations. The Task Group is on a three-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific region conducting a series of activities, engagements, exercises and operations.
This is the first time Te Mana has been deployed in support of UNSC sanctions monitoring. Aotearoa was also in the area and conducted six replenishments at sea for Te Mana and partner nations’ vessels during patrols.
During Te Mana’s UNSC sanctions enforcement, about 180,000 square nautical miles were covered, seven vessels of interest monitored, and 60 deterrence messages were broadcast via maritime radio.
Extending the reach of the task group were two SH-2G(I) Seasprite helicopters, one embarked on each ship, enabling vessels to be detected over the horizon and beyond the monitoring range of ships alone.
Maritime enforcement patrols report vessels suspected of trafficking refined petroleum to North Korea and exporting commodities such as coal, iron ore and sand used to fund North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile production.
To bypass UNSC sanctions, North Korea uses a shadow fleet and deceptive ship-to-ship transfers. Deception tactics used include vessels turning off automatic Identification systems, spoof signals, vessel identity laundering such as removing flags and painting over vessel names, and draft alteration where crews manipulate cargo to pretend a ship is heavily loaded or empty.
Maritime Component Commander, Commodore Shane Arndell, said Te Mana’s first deployment to UNSC monitoring was a further demonstration of the frigate’s capabilities to undertake a range of tasks from sanctions enforcement to warfighting when required.
Deploying Aotearoa had enabled the frigate to remain at sea for longer during operational patrols.
“The combined effects of the two ships operating as a task group and providing regional support with like-minded partners shows the value of training, preparation and interoperability, and demonstrates how collectively we work together to achieve common goals,” Commodore Arndell said.
All activities by the task group were conducted in accordance with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The New Zealand Defence Force has been contributing to international efforts to monitor and report sanctions evasions by North Korea, including with maritime patrols by air and sea, since 2018.
“Following the successful contributions made by Aotearoa and the Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon in previous years, Te Mana’s involvement in the mission has given us the opportunity to utilize the various sensors, systems and capabilities that enhance maritime domain awareness and genuinely support regional security,” said Commander Tuijo Thompson, Commanding Officer of Te Mana.
“With Aotearoa providing sustainment support to Te Mana and other partner navies in the region, sailors and officers of the RNZN Task Group have enjoyed the opportunity to put into practice what we have trained to do, including as recently as during Exercise RIMPAC as well as throughout each individual’s naval career.
“I am proud of what Te Mana and Aotearoa have achieved and New Zealand should be too,” he said.
New Zealand is a member of the Pacific Security Maritime Exchange, which is a partnership of nations working together to detect evasions of UN sanctions aimed at curbing North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.