Press Releases
Monitoring and surveillance activities by the Netherlands against illicit maritime activities including ship-to-ship transfers
June 15, 2026
Royal Netherlands Navy frigate HNLMS DE RUYTER
(Source: The Netherlands Ministry of Defence)
- From early to mid-June, Royal Netherlands Navy frigate HNLMS DE RUYTER conducted 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. It was the second time for the Royal Netherlands Navy vessel to engage in these activities since 2024.
- 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.
- As Japan has also been conducting information-gathering activities on vessels suspected of violating the UNSCRs, Japan works closely with relevant countries and international organizations, including the Netherlands.