HMS Richmond recently conducted operations in the East China Sea
to support United Nations sanctions efforts targeted against the
Democratic Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) Weapons of Mass Destruction
and ballistic missile programmes. The sanctions, adopted in 2017,
ban the supply of fuel or refined petroleum products to DPRK.
Detaching from the UK Carrier Strike Group, currently deployed to
the Indo-Pacific, the Type 23 Royal Navy frigate captured
evidence of ships apparently breaching UN sanctions and collected
updated intelligence on other ships of interest, providing video
and photographic evidence to the UN Enforcement Coordination Cell
(ECC). The operations, which were conducted and completed earlier
this month, are the first occasion since 2019 that a Royal Navy
ship has supported United Nations sanctions monitoring and
enforcement activity.
Defence Secretary, said:
HMS Richmond’s deployment in the East China Sea identified ships
acting in suspected breach of UN sanctions and tracked vessels
which had previously not been flagged to the Enforcement
Coordination Cell.
North Korea’s ambitions to acquire Weapons of Mass Destruction
destabilises the region and poses a threat to the world. This
vital activity, part of the Carrier Strike Group deployment to
the region, has frustrated those ambitions.
The Commanding Officer, Commander Hugh Botterill MBE
said:
Participating in UNSCR enforcement activity has been a critical
moment of our CSG 21 deployment. HMS Richmond is proud to have
participated in the effort to curtail DPRK’s WMD programmes,
reporting on vessels of interest and providing valuable imagery
and contact data.
My team located multiple ships of various nationalities
apparently acting in contravention of United Nations Security
Council sanctions, and located, tracked and approached a number
of ships that hadn’t previously been identified to the
Enforcement Coordination Cell.
Over the last month the UK Carrier Strike Group has been
conducting a series of exercises with the Japanese, United States
and the Republic of Korea, separate to sanctions enforcement.
Signalling the UK’s enduring commitment to the Indo-Pacific, the
Royal Navy has also recently despatched two warships – HMS Spey
and HMS Tamar – to the region to deliver a permanent force
presence.
HMS Richmond is currently alongside in Japan undertaking a
planned routine maintenance programme before resuming operations
and defence engagement with the UK Carrier Strike Group, headed
by the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.
