Issue Choosing sectors: frontier technology and Arctic logistics with Russia, critical minerals and education with Central Asia

Summary

Building on its modelling, the report argues that industrial cooperation also requires strategic choices where policy demand and economic demand converge. With Russia, it recommends focusing on advanced technologies such as AI, space and biotechnology and on logistics and infrastructure where policy and economic needs meet, including the Northern Sea Route. With Central Asia, it recommends expanding cooperation in resources and energy, including critical minerals such as rare earths, and in education and public services. The authors conclude that Korea must build a strategy that simultaneously addresses the geopolitical factor of sanctions on Russia and the political and economic demand for economic security. The recommendations are framed as partner-specific strategic choices rather than one uniform prescription for the whole northern region.