Canadian Aurora Maritime Patrol Aircraft to Conduct N. Korean Sanction Monitoring

Canada has announced its plan to send a CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol detachment to Japan to support a multinational security effort in response to North Korea’s illicit activities.

For four weeks, the Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft and its team will monitor suspected movements in violation of UN Security Council sanctions.

The sanctions, imposed since 2006, aim to suspend Pyongyang’s weapons of mass destruction programs, ballistic missile launches, and nuclear weapon tests that have been deemed a threat to the UN’s Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty.

Canada’s campaign will include surveillance of ship-to-ship fuel transfers and screening of commodities prohibited under the sanctions.

Ottawa’s detachment to Tokyo will involve about 50 personnel. Accompanying tasks will be facilitated from September to October 2024.

Operation NEON

The Canadian Department of Defence highlighted that the Aurora deployment will operate under Operation NEON, a defense initiative launched in 2019 to enhance “international peace and stabilization” across the Asia-Pacific in collaboration with the UN and other nations.

Alongside long-range patrol aircraft, NEON utilizes naval warships and supplies assets to portions of the region where sanctions evasion by Pyongyang is prominent, including the East China Sea.

Ottawa coordinated its latest CP-140 patrol mission with Japan for the same purpose in June 2024. To date, NEON has completed 12 sorties and 103 flight hours for the effort.

Potential Increase of AUKUS Members

Canada’s latest military effort with Japan follows the government’s announcement of intent to join AUKUS, a trilateral alliance between Australia, the UK, and the US in response to threats in the Indo-Pacific region.

In April, Japan expressed its desire to become the fourth member of the AUKUS group. New Zealand also announced its interest in participating in the pact last year.