7 Sep 2018

NZ airforce plane to join patrol near North Korea

2:53 pm on 7 September 2018

New Zealand is sending an Air Force Orion aircraft to help enforce United Nations (UN) sanctions against North Korea.

Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion P-3K2 aircraft.

New Zealand's Air Force is sending an Orion aircraft to patrol the sea near North Korea. Photo: Supplied/NZDF

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said the maritime patrol aircraft would patrol international waters in North Asia.

The aircraft would look for signs of vessels undertaking activities that break United Nations sanctions against North Korea.

The Orion would be based at Kadena Air Base in Japan.

Mr Peters said New Zealand welcomed the recent dialogue between North Korea and the US and South Korea.

But until North Korea abided by its international obligations, full implementation of UN Security Council sanction resolutions was essential, he said.

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