SEOUL, September 04 (AJP) - Cooperation on the Arctic among South Korea, China and Japan matters more as the region warms and its politics harden, South Korea's ambassador for polar affairs told a research meeting in northern Japan this week.
None of the three countries holds territory above the Arctic Circle. All three were admitted as observers to the Arctic Council, the main intergovernmental forum for the region, at a ministerial meeting in Kiruna, Sweden, in May 2013, alongside India, Italy and Singapore. Observers may attend meetings and contribute to working groups, but they do not vote.
Lee Tae-woo attended the 12th meeting of the North Pacific Arctic Research Community, held in Monbetsu, Hokkaido, from Sept. 2 to 4, and delivered congratulatory remarks, South Korea's foreign ministry said.
Lee credited the network with growing into a platform for concrete and practical cooperation across a range of fields.
He also stressed that the South Korean government seeks a peaceful, sustainable and open Arctic, and said it would continue to contribute to international cooperation on the region grounded in international norms.
This year's session of the North Pacific Arctic Research Community (NPARC) took up the state of Arctic cooperation by countries outside the region and where the three neighbors might work together next. Participants presented on Arctic policy, natural science, Arctic shipping routes and the participation of Indigenous peoples in decisions affecting the region.
Those taking part included Japan's ambassador for Arctic affairs, the head of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, the president of the Korea Maritime Institute and experts drawn from industry, universities and research institutes.
On the margins of the meeting, Lee met Takahashi Katsuhiko, Japan's ambassador for Arctic affairs, and the two discussed major Arctic issues and ways for the two countries to cooperate in the region.
The ministry said South Korea would keep contributing to international cooperation on Arctic peace and sustainable development as a responsible Arctic Council observer.
NPARC has been held every year since 2014, rotating among the three countries. The Korea Maritime Institute, the Hokkaido University Arctic Research Center and the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies serve as the national secretariats.
AJP Takeaways
- Lee Tae-woo, South Korea's ambassador for polar affairs, told the 12th North Pacific Arctic Research Community meeting in Monbetsu, Hokkaido, on Sept. 2 to 4 that Arctic cooperation among South Korea, China and Japan matters more as the region warms and its politics harden.
- South Korea's foreign ministry said the government seeks a peaceful, sustainable and open Arctic and would keep contributing to cooperation grounded in international norms as an Arctic Council observer.
- Takahashi Katsuhiko, Japan's ambassador for Arctic affairs, met Lee on the margins of the session, where the two discussed major Arctic issues and bilateral cooperation in the region.
- The Arctic Council admitted South Korea, China and Japan as observers at its Kiruna ministerial in May 2013, alongside India, Italy and Singapore, giving them attendance and working-group roles but no vote.
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