The Royal New Zealand navy deployed its largest ship to northeast Asia this month to watch for North Korean violations of U.N. sanctions, according to Japan’s foreign affairs ministry Tuesday.

The HMNZS Aotearoa carried out surveillance operations in “in waters surrounding Japan” from early to mid-November, the ministry said in a press release.

Japan welcomed the vessel’s deployment as part of international efforts to implement U.N. Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs) against North Korea.

“As Japan has also been conducting information gathering activities for vessels suspected of violating the UNSCRs, Japan works closely with relevant countries and international organizations, including