ANCHORAGE (Sputnik) — South Korea is interested in the Arctic region as its natural resources might become energy sources for the country, Republic of Korea’s Ambassador for Arctic Affairs Chan-Woo Kim told Sputnik.
"Arctic natural resources are underdeveloped. Korea is importing 97 percent of its energy from overseas. So, the Arctic’s natural resources might be fed into Korean energy consumption," Kim said.
The Ambassador noted that as a non-Arctic country, South Korea is paying close attention to the Arctic due to the climate change issue.
"The Arctic is a barometer of the climate change. That’s why Korea is very much interested in Arctic climate change phenomena," he stated.
Global warming is opening up previously inaccessible areas of the Arctic Ocean to potential commercial opportunities, including oil and gas exploration, shipping, transportation and fishing.
Kim pointed out the enormous potential for new opportunities as the Arctic sea routes are opening up.
"[W]e should manage these Arctic sea routes in environmentally friendly manner. Korea has the capacity and will to contribute to this process," he stated. "As a non-Arctic country we will closely collaborate with Arctic countries on Arctic issues."
Some 20 countries and hundreds of policy makers, diplomats and scientists discussed the most urgent Arctic issues, including climate change, at the Global Leadership in the Arctic: Cooperation, Innovation, Engagement and Resilience (GLACIER) conference in Anchorage, Alaska on August 30-31.
