Japan, South Korea and US Plan Arctic Maritime Agreement

Japan, the United States and South Korea are preparing to sign a memorandum aimed at strengthening cooperation on maritime activities and energy supplies in the Arctic.

The agreement would introduce another geopolitical dimension to the growing commercial development of northern shipping routes.

Foreign ministers Toshimitsu Motegi, Marco Rubio and Cho Hyun are expected to sign the memorandum in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

Under the draft agreement, the three countries would establish a joint working framework concentrating on the use of Arctic maritime routes, energy resources and economic security. Potential areas of cooperation include Arctic shipping routes, icebreaker technology, marine observation, and the transportation of oil and gas.

The planned agreement comes as the use of Arctic shipping routes increasingly moves beyond long-term proposals and into commercial trials. Earlier this month, South Korea completed its first containership voyage along the Northern Sea Route. The 2,758-teu PanStar Acro traveled from Busan to northern Europe, completing the passage in 21 days.

South Korea has also introduced an annual KRW120 billion ($87 million) financing program designed to support ice-class vessels and icebreakers.

China, meanwhile, has increased its seasonal Arctic container shipping operations, while Russia is continuing to develop the Northern Sea Route together with related ports and resource projects.