Busan:President Lee Jae Myung has confirmed South Korea's commitment to developing a new shipping route through the Arctic Ocean, ensuring that the initiative will adhere to international sanctions and norms.
According to Yonhap News Agency, President Lee made this announcement during a ceremony celebrating the successful voyage of a South Korean container ship to Europe through the Arctic Ocean. This endeavor is part of South Korea's strategy to operate summer-season container shipping services that link Asia and Europe.
The PanStar Acro, a South Korean container ship, completed its journey by returning to Busan on Sunday. The ship traveled via the Arctic Ocean north of Russia, reaching Britain, the Netherlands, and Poland, concluding a 50-day round trip that began in Busan. This pilot voyage marks the first successful trip by a South Korean container vessel through the Arctic Ocean, which, despite being riskier due to polar ice, offers faster shipping compared to the Suez Canal route.
The increasing international use of the Arctic route has sparked concerns about potential cooperation with Russian entities, which could undermine sanctions imposed on Russia over its conflict with Ukraine. President Lee emphasized that South Korea's development of the Arctic route would be grounded in the trust of the international community and committed to abiding by international sanctions and norms. He also highlighted the importance of communication with key countries to address relevant concerns responsibly.
President Lee expressed his hope that the new route would lead to mutual prosperity rather than being an exclusive interest of any single country. He pledged to lay the groundwork for Arctic shipping by gaining experience and investing in technologies to ensure safety and environmental protection.
The president described the voyage as a "meaningful challenge," demonstrating the feasibility of the Arctic sea route and marking a significant milestone in South Korea's Arctic shipping endeavors. Furthermore, he reiterated his vision of transforming Busan into a maritime hub, leveraging the city's port and logistics infrastructure, along with the shipbuilding capabilities in Ulsan and the surrounding South Gyeongsang Province.