Press Releases
Monitoring and surveillance activities by France against illicit maritime activities including ship-to-ship transfers
May 6, 2021
French Navy amphibious assault ship FS TONNERRE
(Source: French Ministry of Armed Forces)
French Navy frigate FS SURCOUF
(Source: French Ministry of Armed Forces)
- From early May, French Navy amphibious assault ship FS TONNERRE and frigate FS SURCOUF will engage in monitoring and surveillance activities against illicit maritime activities, including ship-to-ship transfers with North Korean-flagged vessels prohibited by the United Nations Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs) in waters surrounding Japan including the East China Sea. This is the third of such activities by French Navy Vessels since 2019.
- Japan welcomes these activities from the viewpoint of ensuring effective implementation of the relevant UNSCRs in solidarity with the international community toward the realization of North Korea’s dismantlement of all weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles of all ranges in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner.
- The Japan Coast Guard and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force are also conducting information gathering activities for vessels suspected to be in violation of the UNSCRs, and Japan will work closely with related countries.