South Korea tests Arctic shipping route amid Russia-West row

A South Korean container ship made a 50-day voyage from Busan to Rotterdam via the Arctic Ocean in October, showcasing the potential of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) as a trade shortcut. The NSR is around 7,000 kilometers shorter than the Suez Canal route and avoids the Middle East geopolitical tensions. However, Western European nations are concerned that South Korean President Lee Jae-myung may be seeking to strengthen economic ties with Russia, which contradicts the goals of isolating Moscow due to its invasion of Ukraine.

The ship, PanStar Acro, navigated through the Arctic and reached Felixstowe in the UK, Rotterdam in the Netherlands, and Gdansk in Poland before heading back on the NSR. The NSR has seen a 40% increase in vessel traffic since 2013, driven by melting Arctic ice due to climate change. South Korea aims to establish regular commercial services on the NSR by 2030, potentially reducing shipping costs and transit times.

However, this could also create strategic dependency on Russia, as Moscow controls navigation along its Arctic coastline. European diplomats worry that Seoul's engagement with Russia may undermine efforts to isolate Moscow over Ukraine and include allegations of fuel deliveries to Russia via sanctioned tankers. South Korea sees the NSR as a beneficial economic opportunity, while also hoping to influence Russia's stance towards North Korea, reducing the flow of weapons to the regime.