South Korea’s first icebreaker, the Araon, has departed Incheon Port for an exploration mission in the Arctic region.

The Araon will arrive in Alaska on August 18th to explore Chukchi Sea in the Arctic. It will travel to Beaufort Sea in Canada early next month to explore resources in the region with Canadian researchers.

The icebreaker has traveled the Arctic and Antarctic regions seven times since 2010, but this month's trip will be the first time it enters another country's territory for resource exploration.

Chief of the Korea Polar Research Institute, Kim Ye-dong, said the Araon’s latest Arctic expedition will pave the way for the country’s exploration of overseas resources as the Arctic sea ice is rapidly thawing.

The icebreaker is also expected to help South Korea explore new North Pole routes through research on topographical features and marine environment.