South Korea tests Arctic shipping route amid Russia-West row

For South Korean ships, navigating off north coast of Russia dramatically reduces travel time to Europe, but the pro-Ukraine coalition might see it as undermining their efforts to isolate Moscow. A South Korean container ship completed a voyage to Western Europe through the Arctic Ocean off the northern coast of Russia in October, fueling Seoul's hopes of exploiting the route as a shortcut for trade.

The ship made the round trip from Busan to Rotterdam in just 50 days, saving at least 10 days compared to the fastest travel times along the more commonly used Suez Canal route. The Northern Sea Route (NSR) is not only around 7,000 kilometers (4,350 miles) shorter, it also avoids the geopolitical flashpoint of the Middle East.

Analysts say the nations arrayed against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine fear that South Korean President Lee Jae-myung is looking to boost Seoul's economic relations with Moscow. This would run contrary to the efforts to cut off Russia made by Kyiv and its Western alies.