New Zealand has deployed a long-range patrol aircraft to monitor North Korea’s maritime smuggling and sanctions evasion activities, Japan’s foreign ministry announced on Friday.

In a press release, the ministry stated that a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-8A Poseidon aircraft began its operation from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa in mid-April and will continue until early May.

This marks the seventh time the RNZAF has contributed to monitoring North Korea’s ship-to-ship transfers in violation of U.N. Security Council sanctions since 2018.

The Japanese press release welcomed New Zealand’s efforts toward ensuring the effective implementation of Security Council