[Repost] The Arctic Sea Route is Lee Jae-myung's achievement

The first Arctic Sea Route
The first Arctic Sea Route
The ships and navigation technologies were already prepared. Our shipping companies and national vessels have possessed polar navigation technology, ice-breaking vessel operation know-how, and logistics systems for several years already. Technically, launching a ship to pass through the Arctic Ocean is something that can be done under any administration, provided the shipping companies make the decision and are prepared.
Ultimately, the key was 'political approval (sanction evasion).' As mentioned in the article, because the Arctic Sea Route passes along the Russian coast, it is directly linked to Western sanctions against Russia following the war in Ukraine. The issue of whether a ship can be launched was not about 'having the technology,' but rather 'whether the U.S. will impose secondary boycotts to ruin our shipping companies, banks, or insurers, or whether they will turn a blind eye.'
It is an area of U.S. diplomatic 'permission' rather than an administration's achievement. The U.S. has granted an exception (deferral) for this specific pilot voyage, saying, "We won't impose sanctions just this once, so go ahead and try," but they have not approved regular operations or laid out a new framework. Even the article specifies that "this is not a comprehensive approval and sanctions can be imposed at any time in the future if necessary."
The most important thing is the permission of the U.S. and Russia, and they are the ones who decide; just because this was piloted doesn't mean they can keep going. The technology has always been there.
The Arctic Sea Route is formed along the Russian Arctic coast, requiring transit permission from the Russian authorities. Even if a vessel does not call at a Russian port, it is inevitable that it will be subject to Russian management and control during the route usage, raising concerns about potential conflicts with Western sanctions against Russia following the war in Ukraine. The Korean government maintains the position that no payments were made to Russia during this voyage.
ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ
Of course, I haven't actually read it.