Australia Deploys Warship to Prevent North Korea from Importing Petroleum

Australia has deployed a Royal Australian Navy warship to help enforce United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions on North Korea, aimed at halting the country’s illegal import of petroleum and export of coal.

HMAS Sydney, an air warfare destroyer, is operating under Operation Argos, Australia’s contribution to multinational efforts to monitor and disrupt sanctioned maritime activity, including ship-to-ship transfers. The deployment marks the 13th mission by an Australian naval vessel to support this operation since it began in 2018.

The sanctions restrict North Korea’s access to refined petroleum and crude oil, targeting efforts by the regime to bypass global limits through illicit sea transfers.

As part of its ongoing regional presence deployment, HMAS Sydney began its mission in late March. The ship’s deployment is scheduled to last three months.

The ship is working closely with the Enforcement Coordination Cell based in Yokosuka, Japan, and is focusing patrols in areas where illegal transfers are likely to occur. Equipped with an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter and an array of surveillance sensors, HMAS Sydney is monitoring suspected activities at sea.

In addition to naval deployments, Australia contributes to Operation Argos through aerial surveillance. In April, a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft was sent to Japan to assist with monitoring duties.