New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded to a chilling threat from North Korea over surveillance of the nation.
Pyongyang on Monday called out New Zealand, alongside the UK, Canada, Germany, France and Australia, to immediately stop the "blatant military intervention in the Asia-Pacific" by using UN sanctions as an excuse, a statement by its foreign ministry via state media KCNA said.
The outlet added that North Korea would take necessary steps to protect its sovereignty and security.
However, New Zealand is sticking to its position despite the warning.
"The New Zealand Government has consistently outlined New Zealand's opposition to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's missile and nuclear programmes. These programmes are in direct contravention of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions," a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson told Newshub on Monday.
"The United Nations Security Council sanctions regime is a key element of the global effort to peacefully apply pressure on North Korea to denuclearise and abandon its ballistic missile programme."
The spokesperson said from mid-April to early May 2024, a New Zealand Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft was involved in monitoring and surveillance activities of illegal maritime activities, including ship-to-ship transfers with North Korean-flagged vessels, prohibited by the United Nations Security Council resolutions.
"This follows New Zealand's regular contributions to sanctions monitoring in 2018, 2019 and 2021," the statement said.
