We are actively working on trying to attract Seoul to cooperate within the Arctic Council, including the involvement of South Korean shipping companies in the development of the Northern Sea Route, Russian Ambassador to South Korea Alexander Timonin said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

"We are going to great lengths to invite the Republic of Korea to cooperate in the Arctic Council, to attract South Korean shipping companies to use the Northern Sea Route, and also to get South Korean businesses to participate in the development of its infrastructure," Timonin said.

According to previous RIA Novosti reports, the Rosatom State Corporation earlier on drafted a law authorizing it to supervise and control the navigation on the Northern Sea Route. The bill gives Rosatom the authority to organize the passage of vessels in the Northern Sea Route water area, the right to make decisions on opening seaports on the Northern Sea Route and approve the procedure for leasing federally owned facilities in these ports.

Rosatom will be expected to approve the rules for the provision of services as well as the list of port charges to be applied at seaports located in the Northern Sea Route water area. The new legislation should significantly enhance the NSR development as a national transport artery in the Arctic. It is expected to be adopted this year.