Seoul's Arctic shipping test with Russia angers Europe seeking to isolate Moscow

South Korea is testing an Arctic trade shortcut but the route’s dependence on Russia is raising concerns among Western allies. (Representative image) South Korea is set to test a new shipping route for Europe via the Arctic, testing whether a route opened by global warming can be commercially viable. The voyage has drawn concern from Western allies because it requires coordination with Russia.A South Korean container ship, the PanStar Acro, is scheduled to leave Busan on Saturday for a 40-45 day round trip to Europe via the Arctic. It will stop at Felixstowe in Britain, Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Gdansk in Poland before returning to South Korea. If successful, it would mark the country's first commercial container voyage to Europe through the Arctic.Global warming opens new routeThe route has become increasingly accessible as Arctic sea ice melts, with September typically offering the lowest ice levels and safer navigation conditions. South Korea's oceans ministry estimates that the Arctic route could cut voyages to Europe by up to 35% compared with the Suez Canal route while reducing fuel consumption.Seoul sees the route as more than a shipping experiment. President Lee Jae ...