Recommendation 166

Korea has a large shipbuilding sector and provided ice-capable vessels to a number of customers, including in Russia. Korea’s private sector has shown a clear interest in the development of Arctic maritime routes, should they become commercially viable, and Korean ships have conducted trial voyages through the Northern Sea Route. By contrast, Japanese policymakers do not currently see the development of Arctic maritime routes as important for Japan’s export economy. Nonetheless, like other East Asian states, Japan would like to “stay in the game” should transit routes become economically viable in the future. 190