With global temperatures on the rise, melting ice is making the Arctic more accessible to maritime navigation, opening up shipping routes for global trade as well as areas containing sizable deposits of minerals and fossil fuels. As the five nations with Arctic coastlines address how to manage these new opportunities and the challenges they raise, South Korea is actively seeking to overcome its geography and gain a seat at the table.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak recently completed his first trip to the Arctic, where he apparently made some progress in advancing Seoul’s political, commercial and logistical interests. Overall, the visit reflected South Korea’s broader ambitions of becoming an influential player in the Arctic region.
After attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit on Sept. 9 in Vladivostok, Russia, Lee traveled on to Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory. While there, he and Greenland Prime Minister Kuupik Kleist signed three memorandums of understanding that provide the framework for cooperation on shipping lanes, mineral and resources exploration and geological surveys. The two countries also announced plans to increase cooperation on green development projects.