1. The eleventh Arctic Frontiers conference took place in Tromsø, Norway, from January 22 to 27, bringing together some 2,000 people, including prime minister- and minister-level government delegates, entrepreneurs, and relevant experts from 20-odd countries. The delegation of the Republic of Korea to the meeting included government officials, led by Ambassador for Climate Change and Arctic Cooperation Kim Chan-woo, as well as experts from the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI) and the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI).

2. At the conference themed “White Space-Blue Future,” Prime Minister Børge Brende of Norway and the other participants discussed ways for sustainable maritime cooperation in the Arctic Ocean.

3. At the session on the “ROK-Norway joint research on northeastern sea routes” on January 25, Ambassador Kim delivered opening remarks, in which he spoke about the ROK’s pilot navigation along an Arctic route and presented ways to further develop northeastern sea routes.

4. On January 23, Ambassador Kim attended the session on the Arctic Council, where he shared with the other participants the ROK’s efforts regarding maritime cooperation at the Arctic Council and proposed a future direction of cooperation.

° The Ambassador stressed that amid the tide of globalization, countries in the Arctic and non-Arctic regions should work together to seek a global solution to Arctic-related issues. Calling the ROK a partner with the capacity to contribute to efforts to resolve such issues, he spoke of the country’s work and contribution at the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) Working Group and the Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response (EPPR) Working Group of the Arctic Council.

5. On the sidelines of the Arctic Frontiers conference, Ambassador Kim held a trilateral meeting with the US and Japan; bilateral meetings with Norway and Canada; and informal meetings with Russia, Finland and China on Arctic issues.

° In the bilateral meetings with major countries in the Arctic region, the Ambassador informed them of the ROK’s Arctic policy and activities, and discussed with them ways to work more closely together in the field.

6. The conference served as an opportunity for the ROK to broadly inform the international community of its scientific research activities on the Arctic at its Arctic Dasan Station and icebreaker Araon, and to have its position reflected on key Arctic-related matters.


* unofficial translation