South Korean construction project management firm HanmiGlobal will convene experts in Seoul on Thursday, Nov. 5, to consider how Arctic shipping and transport links could shape economic cooperation around the Tumen River, The Korea Herald reported.
The river traces part of North Korea’s boundary with China and reaches the border with Russia farther downstream. According to the Herald, the Korean Association of North Korean Studies and HanmiGlobal’s Institute of Unified Korea Construction Strategy are organizing the forum. The newspaper tied renewed attention to Northeast Asian connectivity to emerging Arctic shipping routes and closer relations among Pyongyang, Beijing and Moscow.
The outlet said the Tumen’s first road bridge connecting North Korea with Russia opened in September. It cited the project as part of wider interest in regional transport links.
Specialists from South Korea, China and Japan are scheduled to examine development options and political challenges in the region, the newspaper reported. Planned topics include the effects of Arctic shipping on regional cooperation and development prospects amid closer North Korea-China-Russia ties.
Among the speakers, Sung Weon-Yong of Incheon National University will discuss Arctic routes, while Park Young-min of Daejin University is due to assess regional development prospects. Jang Dong-myung of China’s Liaoning University is set to outline approaches involving the country’s three northeastern provinces. Mitsuhiro Mimura, affiliated with Japan’s University of Niigata Prefecture, will examine Japan’s potential role in regional economic cooperation. Seo Bo-hyuk, who heads the Korean Association of North Korean Studies, will moderate a discussion of infrastructure priorities and barriers to cross-border projects, the Herald reported.
Lee Sang-jun, who heads HanmiGlobal’s research institute, said South Korea should pursue more partnerships with neighboring countries as Arctic routes gain strategic importance, the Herald reported.
The seminar is scheduled from 11:30 p.m. Nov. 4 to 2:45 a.m. Nov. 5 ET (04:30–07:45 UTC Nov. 5), corresponding to 1:30–4:45 p.m. Korea Standard Time on Thursday, Nov. 5. The venue is the Construction Center in Nonhyeon-dong, southern Seoul. The paper said admission is free and advance registration through the event poster’s QR code is available until Nov. 4.
