Press Releases
Monitoring and surveillance activities by French Republic against illicit maritime activities including ship-to-ship transfers
October 9, 2026
French Navy patrol aircraft Falcon 50M
(Source: Ministry of the Armed Forces of France)
- From mid-October to early November, French Navy patrol aircraft Falcon 50M 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), using Kadena Air Base under the Agreement Regarding the Status of the United Nations Forces in Japan. It will be the seventh time a French aircraft engaged in these activities 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.
- As Japan has also been conducting information-gathering activities for vessels suspected of violating the UNSCRs, Japan will continue to work closely with relevant countries and international organizations, including the French Republic.