Icebreaker Araon - game changer for Arctic research

President Park Geun-hye holds a summit with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the latter's office in Ottawa on Sept. 22 during her state visit to the North American country. The two countries' polar research institutes will sign a memorandum of understanding to perform joint research activities sooner or later. / Yonhap

International scientists vying to conduct joint projects with Korea

This is the last in a two-part series highlighting the melting Arctic ice cap and its impact on Korea's Arctic diplomacy. — ED.

By Kang Hyun-kyung

Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) scientists had an unusual guest in May 2010, seven months after the scientific research ship Araon was commissioned and handed over to the think tank.

Nicholas Owens, then director of one of the world's top-tier polar research institutes, the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), made a surprise visit to the Songdo-based state-run research institute to discuss collaboration with Korean scientists involving the brand-new ice-capable research ship.

Until then, KOPRI scientists say, no one at the institute would have imagined such a high-profile scientist would visit the Korean think tank.

Nam Sang-heon, a senior researcher with KOPRI, says the 6,950-ton ship Araon is truly a game changer in Korea's 20-year history of Arctic and Antarctic research.

"Before Araon, it was really hard for us to have internationally renowned scientists or think tanks do joint projects with us. But there has been a shift in international scientists' attitudes toward joint research with Korea since we acquired the vessel,"he said.

"We have received many calls from international scientists and think tanks from both Arctic and non-Arctic countries to seek joint research in the Arctic or Antarctica."

For example, Nam said, in 2011 scientists from 10 countries were aboard the Araon at different times to perform joint research with Korean scientists in the waters off Antarctica or in the Arctic.

President Park Geun-hye holds a summit with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the latter's office in Ottawa on Sept. 22 during her state visit to the North American country. The two countries' polar research institutes will sign a memorandum of understanding to perform joint research activities sooner or later. / Yonhap
Korea's 6,950-ton ice-capable research vessel Araon

BAS oceanographer Povl Abrahamsen, who took part in the joint research with Korean scientists in the waters off Antarctica, was thrilled about the state-of-the-art research vessel.

In an email message to The Korea Times, Prof. Jane Francis, incumbent BAS director, quoted Abrahamsen as saying he was enormously impressed with the technical capabilities of the ship.

"But it was the master and crew who most impressed Povl," said Francis. "He praised their skill, enthusiasm and commitment to delivering their scientific goals."

The BAS director said that every member of her staff who had experienced the Araon was "extremely pleased to have the opportunity to work aboard the ice-capable vessel in the waters around Antarctica."

"We look forward to participating in the future collaborations in which the Araon may take a central role," she said.

The icebreaker, which is called a floating lab due to its cutting-edge technologies for oceanic scientific research, has played a decisive role in raising Korea's international profile in oceanic research.

In May last year, Korea obtained permanent observer status in the Arctic Council, which has eight Arctic states as its members. The eight are the United States, Canada, Russia, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Iceland.

This would have been unfeasible without full support from Arctic countries such as Norway.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Grende said Norway had worked hard to win consensus on admitting new observers to the Arctic Council. "We are therefore very pleased with the decision at the 2013 ministerial meeting in Kiruna to grant Korea permanent observer status," he said.

Korea has seen growing calls for cooperative activities not only from the Arctic states, but also from such non-Arctic countries as the United Kingdom and Germany.

KOPRI fellow Nam called for a second ice-capable research ship, one devoted exclusively to scientific research in the Arctic region.

"Demand for joint research from international scientists has grown. But Araon has to cover both the Arctic and Antarctica every year. From July to October, the ship goes to the Arctic, and from October to April it goes to the seas off Antarctica," he said.

"For effective research, I think we need a second research vessel that can explore only the Arctic, so that Araon can fully support scientists' research projects in the waters off Antarctica."

Opportunities

Arctic countries' growing interest in Korea as a partner in oceanic research in the waters there has created a positive environment for Korea's Arctic diplomacy.

During President Park Geun-hye's recent visit to Canada, the presidential office said the two countries' polar research institutes would sign a memorandum of understanding to perform joint research activities sooner or later.

The two sides will collaborate on Arctic research following the completion in 2017 of the Canadian High Arctic Research Station.

The Korea Institute of Geo-science and Mineral Resources is also set to sign a similar accord with its Canadian counterpart to perform joint research and exploration projects involving geosciences and natural resources in the Canadian North.

The Embassy of Canada said, "Canada welcomes the deepening of ties with Korea on the Arctic, both within the context of our bilateral relationship, as well as through the Arctic Council."

In 2013, scientists from the two countries participated in a geosciences research mission in the Canadian Beaufort Sea on the Araon.

"This multidisciplinary research expedition was very successful and enabled new investigations into Arctic geosciences and enabled assessment of geo-hazards in the outer shelf and slope," the embassy said.

Non-Arctic countries such as Korea can benefit in three areas if they bolster Arctic diplomacy.

The region is believed to be replete with rich natural resources, including oil and gas, and this will create business opportunities for Korean companies. They can team up with partners in Arctic nations to explore these resources.

Fishing is another benefit. In the central Arctic Ocean, north of the jurisdiction of any of the Arctic states, there is a region called the donut hole, international waters where even non-Arctic countries such as China and India have asserted fishing rights.

KOPRI scientists say that Korea has not shown much interest in fishing in the donut hole. "Although the area is international seas, we are not enthusiastic about fishing in the region," said Kim Jin-suk, a senior KOPRI researcher. "Arctic nations have their own sovereignty rights and we fully respect this, and therefore try not to cause unnecessary friction."

Emerging friction

Melting Arctic ice, meanwhile, has created a shorter shipping lane, called the Northern Sea Route, which is likely to be passable for nearly four months in the region during summertime due to melting Arctic ice.

The NSR, if viable, will cut nearly 10 days off the traditional shipping route via the Suez Canal from Busan to Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Amid global excitement, some analysts have raised the possibility that the combination of blurred borders and rich natural resources in the Arctic regions could give rise to conflicts or even military friction.

There are unresolved territorial disputes among the Arctic nations in the region.

For example, Hans Island, a small uninhabited island in the Arctic Ocean, is a disputed territory between Canada and Greenland.

"Oil and gas resources, mineral resources, fisheries, tourism and shipping, all these factors are profoundly shaping the new geo-economics of the Arctic," Heather Conley, a senior fellow of the Center for Strategy and International Studies based in Washington D.C., said.

To date, the Arctic nations have succeeded in preventing any of these disputes from escalating into confrontations. But as the Arctic era unfolds, many observers wonder whether this peaceful coexistence can be sustained.

Some countries are already making aggressive gestures toward the region, as seen in a 2013 speech in which Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that his country was determined to protect its interests there.

"I would like to ask you to pay special attention to the deployment of infrastructure and military units in the Arctic," Putin said. "Russia is actively exploring this promising region, and should use all possible channels to protect its security and national interests."

If the Arctic states step up their territorial claims, their actions could test Korea's Arctic diplomacy.