The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries will provide an ice map for South Korean ship operators as early as this year.
 
The ministry said Sunday that it will develop the map using technology that visualizes the locations of icebergs in the Arctic Ocean.
 
The map will help navigators identify places that are safe to cruise, and find the most appropriate routes in crossing the Arctic Ocean.
 
Currently, South Korean ships use imported, expensive navigation information systems when cruising through the Arctic Ocean.  
 
Despite the danger it poses, the Northern Sea Route is popular among ships traveling between Asia and Europe. The route can shorten the trip by around seven-thousand kilometers, which amounts to a 10-day journey, compared with the conventional route linking the Indian Ocean and the Suez Canal.