A ‘Pipe Dream?’ Russia, North and South Korea’s Gas Pipeline Quest

A ‘Pipe Dream?’ Russia, North and South Korea’s Gas Pipeline Quest

by diplomat_admin

The idea of building a commercially and politically viable gas pipeline from Russia’s Sakhalin Island fields across North Korea to provide a long-term supply to South Korea has been percolating for years as an enticing potential win-win-win for all three countries.  The underlying logic of mutual economic gain and potential stabilizing benefits of energy interdependence has kept open the channels for consultation among the parties despite the ups and downs in inter-Korean relations, political transitions in both Koreas, and the breakdown of multilateral diplomacy seeking solutions to the continuing security challenges on the Korean peninsula.
Prospects are brightening that the pipeline might resurface in 2013 as a serious topic for more intensive attention and possible progress due to what seems to be a relatively smooth transition to a more economically focused and future-oriented regime in North Korea, upcoming presidential elections in South Korea that are expected to lead to a more pro-engagement policy with the North no matter which candidate is victorious, and Russia’s recent decision to forgive 90% of North Korea’s debt and invest in future economic cooperation.http://thediplomat.com/2012/10/31/russias-pipeline-dreams-in-korea/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+the-diplomat+%28The+Diplomat+RSS%29