Canada will deploy a patrol aircraft to Japan from early May to early June to monitor illegal ship-to-ship transfers by North Korean vessels, Tokyo’s foreign ministry announced on Wednesday.

According to a ministry press release, the aircraft will operate out of the Kadena Air Base in Okinawa as part of regular surveillance of North Korea’s illicit maritime activities aimed at circumventing U.N. sanctions, marking the 11th time Canada is contributing to these international efforts since 2018.

“Japan welcomes these activities from the viewpoint of ensuring effective implementation of the relevant U.N. Security Council Resolutions in solidarity with the international