Afghanistan, Aug. 20 -- South Korea will send a container ship through the Arctic route to Europe on Saturday, testing whether the increasingly ice-free passage can support commercial shipping while highlighting the geopolitical challenges of operating through waters requiring cooperation with Russia.
The voyage will be South Korea's first commercial container shipment to Europe through the Arctic route, according to Reuters. Seoul sees the passage as a potential alternative to the Suez Canal as melting sea ice gradually extends the period during which ships can navigate parts of the Arctic.
South Korean officials estimate that the Arctic route could cut travel time to Europe by about 35% compared with the traditional route through the Su...