Operation Argos is the Australian Defence Force's contribution to the international effort to enforce United Nations' sanctions against North Korea. The operation began in 2018, and is ongoing.[1] The Australian effort is focused on detecting ship to ship transfers of contraband goods.[2] It involves periodic deployments of aircraft and warships.[3]
The international effort involves Australia, Canada, France, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. It is coordinated by the United States Seventh Fleet.[4]
Deployments
As of June 2024, there had been eleven deployments of Royal Australian Navy warships and twelve deployments of Royal Australian Air Force maritime patrol aircraft to Operation Argos.
Deployments have included:
A deployment of two P-8 Poseidons to Kadena Air Base that concluded in September 2023.[19]
HMAS Toowoomba in November 2023.[20] Several Australian naval divers were slightly injured by sonar from a Chinese warship during this deployment, when the sonar was activated close to the Australian frigate while they were removing a fishing net from its propellers.[21]
