Anomaly high temperature caused by constant global warming has a direct impact on the thawing of the Arctic and Antarctic Ocean. This suggests new opportunities for alternative Northern Sea Routes that were not an option before, due to the economic feasibility. The current study reviews the existing research work on this issue over the world. Results indicate positive possibility of Northern Sea Routes (NSR) from the decrease of distance. But if the ice-breaking, the toll of NSR and the potential environmental risk are still high, the NSR has not economic profits compared with the existing routes (via Suez, via Panama). This study suggests the research direction for the economic investigation of the Northern Sea Routes.

• 백아란(경희대학교 지리학과) | Ah-Ran Baek
• 이승호(건국대학교 지리학과) | Seungho Lee
• 조창현(경희대학교 지리학과) | Chang-Hyeon Joh Correspondence