Operation Argos
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox military operation
|name = Operation Argos
|partof =
|subtitle =
|image =File:AP-3C Orion and a RAAF airman at Kadena Air Force Base in October 2018.jpg
|image_upright =
|alt = Colour photograph of a four engined aircraft on the ground
|caption = A RAAF AP-3C Orion at Kadena Air Force Base in October 2018
|scope =
|type =
|location = North Asia
|location2 =
|coordinates =
|coordinates2 =
|map_type =
|map_size =
|map_caption =
|map_label =
|map_label2 =
|planned =
|planned_by =
|commanded_by =
|objective = Enforcement of United Nations sanctions against North Korea
|target =
|date = Periodically since 2018
|time =
|time-begin =
|time-end =
|timezone =
|executed_by = Australian Defence Force
|outcome =
|casualties =
|fatalities =
|injuries =
}}
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.{{cite web |last1=Senator the Hon Marise Payne |title=Defence’s continued commitment to Operation ARGOS |url=https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/minister/lreynolds/media-releases/defences-continued-commitment-operation-argos-0 |website=Media release |publisher=Department of Defence |date=24 February 2021}} The Australian effort is focused on detecting ship to ship transfers of contraband goods.{{cite news |last1=Kadib |first1=Charbel |title=HMAS Ballarat joins Operation Argos |url=https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/maritime-antisub/8049-hmas-ballarat-joins-operation-argos |access-date=17 July 2021 |work=Defence Connect |date=18 May 2021}} It involves periodic deployments of aircraft and warships.{{cite web |title=Operation Argos – North East Asia |url=https://www1.defence.gov.au/operations/argos |publisher=Department of Defence |access-date=17 July 2021}}
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.{{cite news |last1=Robson |first1=Seth |title=Fewer ships and aircraft are monitoring North Korea’s illicit trade during the pandemic |url=https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/fewer-ships-and-aircraft-are-monitoring-north-korea-s-illicit-trade-during-the-pandemic-1.655352 |access-date=17 July 2021 |work=Stars and Stripes |date=15 December 2020 |language=en}}
Deployments
As of November 2024, there had been 12 deployments of Royal Australian Navy warships and 14 deployments of Royal Australian Air Force maritime patrol aircraft to Operation Argos.
Deployments have included:
- A RAAF P-8 Poseidon to Japan in May 2018{{cite news |last1=McLaughlin |first1=Andrew |title=RAAF P-8A to monitor North Korean sanctions |url=https://adbr.com.au/raaf-p-8a-to-monitor-north-korean-sanctions/ |access-date=17 July 2021 |work=ADBR |date=7 May 2018}}
- Two RAAF AP-3C Orions to North Asia in September 2018{{cite news |last1=McLaughlin |first1=Andrew |title=RAAF AP-3C Orions to enforce North Korea sanctions |url=https://adbr.com.au/raaf-ap-3c-orions-to-enforce-north-korea-sanctions/ |access-date=17 July 2021 |work=ADBR |date=13 September 2018}}
- {{HMAS|Melbourne|FFG 05|6}} in September 2018{{cite news |last1=McGuirk |first1=Rod |title=Aussies order warship to enforce North Korea sanctions |url=https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2018/10/12/aussies-order-warship-to-enforce-north-korea-sanctions/ |access-date=17 July 2021 |work=Navy Times |agency=Associated Press |date=12 October 2018}}
- A RAAF P-8 Poseidon to Kadena Air Base in December 2018{{cite news |last1=Gady |first1=Franz-Stefan |title=Australia Deploys P-8A Poseidon to Japan to Enforce North Korea Sanctions |url=https://thediplomat.com/2018/12/australia-deploys-p-8a-poseidon-to-japan-to-enforce-north-korea-sanctions/ |work=The Diplomat |date=7 December 2018}}
- {{HMAS|Parramatta|FFH 154|6}} in late 2019
- A RAAF P-8 Poseidon to Kadena Air Base in February 2020{{cite news |title=Defence confirms first commitment to Operation Argos for 2020 |url=https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/maritime-antisub/5603-defence-confirms-first-commitment-to-operation-argos-for-2020 |access-date=17 July 2021 |work=Defence Connect |date=19 February 2020 |language=en}}
- A RAAF P-8 Poseidon to Kadena Air Base in September 2020{{cite news |title=Defence's continued commitment to Operation ARGOS - Australian Security Magazine |url=https://australiansecuritymagazine.com.au/defences-continued-commitment-to-operation-argos/ |access-date=17 July 2021 |work=Australian Security Magazine |date=26 September 2020}}
- {{HMAS|Arunta|FFH 151|6}} in November 2020
- A RAAF P-8 Poseidon to Kadena Air Base from late February to late March 2021{{cite web |last1=Owen |first1=Nathan |last2=Geisler |first2=Joel |title=Mission to enforce UN sanctions |url=https://news.defence.gov.au/international/mission-enforce-un-sanctions |publisher=Department of Defence |language=en |date=30 June 2021}}
- {{HMAS|Ballarat|FFH 155|6}} in May 2021
- A RAAF P-8 Poseidon to Kadena Air Base from August 2021{{cite news |title=Australia deploys P-8A for Operation ARGOS |url=https://asiapacificdefencereporter.com/australia-deploys-p-8a-for-operation-argos/ |access-date=16 August 2021 |work=Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter |date=16 August 2021}}
- {{HMAS|Warramunga|FFH 152|6}} in October 2021{{cite web |title=Australia’s continued commitment to sanctions enforcement against North Korea |url=https://news.defence.gov.au/media/media-releases/australias-continued-commitment-sanctions-enforcement-against-north-korea |website=Media release |publisher=Department of Defence |access-date=1 November 2021 |date=28 October 2021}}
- HMAS Parramatta in mid-2022{{cite web |last1=Herring |first1=Andrew |title=HMAS Parramatta receives warm welcome home |url=https://news.defence.gov.au/international/hmas-parramatta-receives-warm-welcome-home |publisher=Department of Defence |access-date=1 August 2022 |date=1 August 2022}}
- HMAS Arunta in October 2022{{cite web |title=HMAS Arunta to support sanctions on North Korea |url=https://news.defence.gov.au/media/media-releases/hmas-arunta-support-sanctions-north-korea |publisher=Department of Defence |access-date=31 October 2022 |date=28 October 2022}}
- A RAAF P-8 Poseidon to Kadena Air Base from February 2023{{cite web |title=Defence continues support to Operation Argos |url=https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/releases/2023-02-17/defence-continues-support-operation-argos |website=Media release |publisher=Department of Defence |access-date=17 February 2023 |date=17 February 2023}}
- {{HMAS|Anzac|FFH 150|6}} in mid-2023{{cite web |title=HMAS Anzac embarks on regional presence deployment |url=https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/releases/2023-04-20/hmas-anzac-embarks-regional-presence-deployment |website=Media release |publisher=Department of Defence |access-date=1 May 2023 |date=20 April 2023}}{{cite web |title=HMAS Anzac enforces United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea |url=https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/releases/2023-06-13/hmas-anzac-enforces-united-nations-security-council-sanctions-against-north-korea |publisher=Department of Defence |access-date=14 June 2023|date=13 June 2023}}
- A deployment of two P-8 Poseidons to Kadena Air Base that concluded in September 2023.{{cite web |title=Defence joins international effort to enforce sanctions on North Korea |url=https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/releases/2023-09-16/defence-joins-international-effort-enforce-sanctions-north-korea |publisher=Department of Defence |access-date=23 September 2023 |date=16 September 2023}}
- {{HMAS|Toowoomba|FFH 156|6}} in November 2023.{{cite web |title=HMAS Toowoomba supports sanctions on North Korea |url=https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2023-11-17/hmas-toowoomba-supports-sanctions-north-korea |publisher=Department of Defence |access-date=18 November 2023 |date=17 November 2023}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Greene |first1=Andrew |title=Australian naval personnel injured by sonar pulses from Chinese warship |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-18/naval-chinese-warship-injury/103121900 |access-date=18 November 2023 |work=ABC News |date=17 November 2023 |language=en-AU}}
- {{HMAS|Hobart|DDG 39|6}} in April 2024.{{cite news |last1=McLaughlin |first1=Andrew |title=HMAS Hobart deploys to help enforce UN North Korea sanctions |url=https://psnews.com.au/hmas-hobart-deploys-to-help-enforce-un-north-korea-sanctions/131361/ |access-date=15 June 2024 |work=PS News |language=en}}
- {{HMAS|Sydney|DDG 42|6}} in mid-late 2024.{{cite web |title=HMAS Sydney departs for regional presence deployment |url=https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/releases/2024-06-20/hmas-sydney-departs-regional-presence-deployment |publisher=Department of Defence |access-date=22 June 2024}}
- A RAAF P-8 Poseidon to Kadena Air Base in November 2024.{{cite news |last1=Dougherty |first1=Robert |title=RAAF P-8A Poseidon aircraft deployed to Japan under Operation Argos |url=https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/air/15022-raaf-p-8a-poseidon-aircraft-deployed-to-japan-under-operation-argos |access-date=27 January 2025 |work=Defence Connect |date=4 November 2024 |language=en}}
- {{HMAS|Sydney|DDG 42|6}} in early-mid 2025.{{cite web |title=HMAS Sydney deployed on sanctions enforcement against North Korea |url=https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/releases/2025-05-12/hmas-sydney-deployed-sanctions-enforcement-against-north-korea |publisher=Department of Defence |access-date=12 May 2025}}