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The Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Parramatta will take part in the enforcement of United Nations Security Council sanctions imposed against the rogue nation, North Korea.
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HMAS Parramatta will deploy in support of sanctions enforcement as a component of a broader East Asian deployment. Parramatta is the third Australian vessel to deploy to the region as part of the nation's enduring commitment to regional security and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
This deployment reflects Australia’s ongoing commitment to maintain pressure on North Korea to take concrete, verifiable and irreversible steps towards denuclearisation.
HMAS Parramatta will work alongside our international partners to monitor and deter ship-to-ship transfers of sanctioned goods.
The deployment follows that of a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft to Japan in May and September this year, to undertake maritime surveillance.
Since 2018, Australia has contributed to international efforts to deter and disrupt illicit trade and sanction-evasion activities by North Korea and its associated networks.
HMAS Parramatta is currently on an East Asia Deployment with HMA Ships Stuart and Hobart as part of the Australian government's renewed push for regional engagement in the Indo-Pacific.
This approach fails to recognise the precarious position Australia now finds itself in. However, it does identify key areas for the nation’s political and strategic leaders to focus on if Australia is to establish a truly independent strategic capacity. This approach focuses largely on:
- Australia’s continuing economic prosperity and stability and the role the economy plays in supporting defence capability;
- the economic, political and strategic intentions of Australia’s Indo-Pacific neighbours; and
- the rapidly evolving technology-heavy nature of contemporary warfare.
Recognising this, the Australian government, spearheaded by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and flanked by Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds, has sought to expand the nation’s relationships with key emerging and established regional great powers, like Japan and Indonesia, and periphery nations like Malaysia to support Australia’s long-term engagement with the region.
The Surface Action Group led by HMAS Hobart is part of a number of regional multinational exercises incorporating a range of Royal Australian Navy vessels.
HMAS Stuart will later join the Armidale Class patrol boat HMAS Ararat, the replenishment ship HMAS Sirius, and the hydrographic survey ship HMAS Leeuwin during their deployment to south-east Asia.
The Anzac frigate HMAS Arunta will then join Sirius in exercises with a range of regional partners, including Malaysia and Indonesia. Navy minehunters HMAS Gascoyne and HMAS Diamantina will participate in international exercises for the final element of the task group.
Parramatta is a long-range frigate capable of air defence, surface and undersea warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance and interdiction. Parramatta's combat capabilities have been significantly improved under the Anti-Ship Missile Defence upgrade program, a program that provides an enhanced sensor and weapons systems capability.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
