Russia, responding to Korea's plan to develop the Arctic route, said it is "impossible without close cooperation with Russia," effectively tossing the ball to Korea.
Georgy Zinoviev, Russian ambassador to Korea, said in an interview from Seoul published on the 8th (local time) by the state-run RIA Novosti news agency that "Korea's plan to develop the Arctic route necessarily includes issues of navigation and maritime safety in Russia's Arctic region," adding, "It cannot be carried out without cooperation with Russia."
He added, "We are ready to enter into a constructive dialogue on the Arctic route," and "Whether those discussions actually begin depends on how realistic Korea's aspirations to develop the Arctic route are."
The Korean government is accelerating moves to open the Arctic route. Kim Sung-beom, acting Minister of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, on the 5th of last month unveiled a plan to pioneer the Arctic route that includes a pilot operation this year of a 3,000-TEU container ship from Busan to Rotterdam, the Netherlands. He said he is preparing to begin consultations with the Russian authorities in the first half of the year.