Press Releases
Monitoring and surveillance activities by Italy against illicit maritime activities including ship-to-ship transfers
September 17, 2026
Italian Navy multi-purpose combat shipGIOVANNI DELLE BANDE NERE (Source: Italian Ministry of Defence)
- From late August to mid-September, Italian Navy multi-purpose combat ship GIOVANNI DELLE BANDE NERE 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 third time for an Italian 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 will continue to work closely with relevant countries and international organizations, including Italy.