NK condemns Australia for planes 'monitoring sanctions'

The P-8A Poseidon. / Korea Times file

By Kim Bo-eun

North Korea denounced Australia, Saturday, for its decision to deploy an additional maritime patrol plane to Japan to monitor the North's possible violation of sanctions.

"It is pouring cold water on the atmosphere of peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the region," the Korean Central News Agency stated, adding the move was a "blind following of the U.S."

According to reports Nov. 30 the Australian government decided to send a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol plane to Okinawa, to monitor North Korea.

It deployed a P-8A Poseidon in April and two AP-3C Orion planes in September. The Royal Australian Navy has also sent a frigate to patrol waters off the Korean Peninsula.

"This is part of Australia's commitment to deter and disrupt illicit trade and sanctions evasion activities by North Korea and its associated networks," Australian Defense Minister Christopher Pyne said in a statement.

"Australia continues to work with partners to maintain pressure on North Korea until it takes concrete, verifiable and irreversible steps to denuclearization."

Pyongyang's protest comes as the international community has stepped up sanctions amid stalled denuclearization talks between North Korea and the U.S.

The North has yet to take verifiable denuclearization steps since it pledged at summits this year to work towards giving up its nuclear program.

High-level talks between Pyongyang and Washington to negotiate nuclear disarmament steps and corresponding measures were originally scheduled for last month but are still yet to be held.

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