When five Chinese icebreaking research vessels cut north into the Arctic this summer more than Beijing has ever deployed simultaneously it signaled more than just a scientific exercise.
As the Northern Sea Route gradually sheds its seasonal ice cloak, China is moving to position itself as a fixture in the Arctic’s commercial landscape.
Meanwhile, in Seoul, Oceans Minister Chun Jae-soo has announced that South Korea will begin pilot operations on Arctic shipping routes next year, pushing for a rapid start to avoid falling behind competitors.
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