New Zealand will increase its contribution to monitoring sanctions against North Korea, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced.

Increased Military Support

Prime Minister Luxon stated that the government has committed to deploying New Zealand Defence Force ships for the first time, alongside increasing the frequency of aircraft deployments. This commitment will support sanctions monitoring efforts until September 2026. Luxon emphasised the significance of these efforts in maintaining peace, stability and the international rules-based system in the Indo-Pacific region.

Strengthening International Engagement

New Zealand aims at enhancing its international engagement both diplomatically and militarily. Earlier this month, the government announced the deployment of additional soldiers to the United Nations mission in South Korea. These steps underscore New Zealand’s commitment to collective security efforts.

Defence Force Challenges

Despite these commitments, the New Zealand Defence Force faces significant challenges. Recent government reports highlight issues such as high attrition rates following the pandemic and aging equipment. Although the government has allocated less capital spending for the upcoming year, it plans to increase spending based on the forthcoming Defence Capability Report.

Future Defence Spending

Minister of Defence Judith Collins informed a parliamentary committee on Tuesday that she has received a draft of the Defence Capability Report. She hopes the report will be presented to government ministers for approval by September or October. This report will outline plans for new military spending over the next few years.

With inputs from Reuters