북극해의 갈등 구조와 해양 지정학적 의미

Maritime Geopolitical significance and conflict structure in the Arctic Ocean

2007년 8월 러시아가 북극 심해 바닥인 로모노소프(Lomonosov) 해령(marine ridge)에 티타늄으로 만든 국기를 설치하자, 미국과 캐나다를 비롯한 북극권 국가들이 앞 다투어 자신들의 북극 정책을 내놓는 등 적극적으로 대응하고 있다. 해양에서의 국가주권이나 관할권 범위가 모호하기 때문에, 북극의 해양 영유권을 둘러싼 갈등 상황이 예고되고 있다. 북극해의 에너지·광물 등 자원 쟁탈전과 함께 북극 항로를 놓고 주변국간 분쟁이 계속되고 있다. 러시아·미국·캐나다 등이 북극에서 군사 시위를 계속하고 있다. 북극해 해빙은 러시아와 미국의 국가안보 전략을 수정하도록 요구하고 있다. 러시아에게는 해양으로 진출할 수 있는 기회를 제공해 주며, 미국에게는 Homeland 안보 차원에서 북극 정책을 준비하도록 한다. 북극은 러시아를 비롯한 북극권 국가들에게 해군력을 증강시키도록 요구하고 있으며, 해양력(Sea Power) 경쟁과 함께 북극해에서의 파워 게임을 준비하도록 하고 있다. 이와 함께, 북극해가 <신냉전>의 무대로 전략하고 있음을 우려하는 목소리가 제기되고 있다.

On putting up Russia s flag which made of titanium steel on Mt.Lomonosov under the Arctic ocean in August, 2007, U.S.A and Canada also have coped with the problem by proposing their own policy for the arctic ocean actively. The range of nation’s sovereignty or jurisdiction to an oceanic territory is vague, so that it is the source of the trouble of a new international complications and tensions. The world powers, Russia, U.S.A and Canada continue to demonstrate a military training in the Arctic ocean. The Arctic ocean with a climatic change began to take its position as a new marine space, and continues to rise to complications among countries around due to the Arctic route as well as a struggle for resource of energy and mineral in the Arctic ocean. It requires that Russia and U.S.A change a national security strategy for the Arctic ocean. The Arctic ocean makes Russia and U.S.A take opportunities, or difficulties. It gives an opportunity for going into the ocean to Russia, and provides U.S.A with a momentum capable of consideration for a value on the arctic ocean as the dimension of national security problems for the Homeland. U.S.A has operated a geopolitical strategy at Heartland and Rimland where is a long way from her native country. At this moment it is faced with the situation that she has to operate the national security for the Homeland in the arctic ocean where is connected with her space. It made them consider a matter of the arctic ocean from “the viewpoint of Aerial geopolitics in 20th century” to “the viewpoint of Ocean geopolitics in 21st century.” Such an arctic situation requires that the countries in the Arctic Circle including Russia reinforce a military strength, and that make all necessary preparations for the power game in the arctic ocean as well as a competition for the Sea Power. They, thoughtful people worry over such a situation that the arctic ocean could be a stage of a new cold war.