Gov't commissions research to promote use of arctic route: sources

Korea's oceans ministry has launched a research project to explore the potential of using an Arctic shipping route, according to sources. The initiative aims to determine the commercial viability of such a route, which could facilitate traffic by 2030. The project includes a survey of shipping companies and logistics firms to gauge their interest in utilizing the route. Developing a logistics network connected to Northern European ports is also part of the project's goals.

Arctic shipping routes are waterways in the Arctic Ocean that link the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. For Korea, these routes could cut the distance between the country and Europe by about 35 percent, compared to the traditional Suez Canal route. The potential of these routes has gained attention due to climate changes and the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, which have impacted shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.