South Korea Mulling Undersea Gas Pipeline Via China

With lack of cooperation from North Korea on the issue of pipeline to supply Russian natural gas, South Korea is considering building an undersea pipeline which will link the country to China, reports in local Korean media said.

The idea was suggested by Jiang Jiemin, chairman of the China National Petroleum Corporation, suggested the idea to Kang Young-won, the president of the Korea National Oil Corporation, during their meeting in Beijing on Feb. 16, according to minutes from the meeting, Korea Joongang Daily said.

“Getting Russian gas through an undersea gas pipeline from Weihai, Shandong, to South Korea is deemed more stable and economical than through North Korea [for South Korea],” Jiang told Kang, the minutes showed. 

It would be an alternative for South Korea, which is waiting for progress in the Russia-initiated plan of building a gas pipeline via North Korea for the supply of Russian gas. 

The pipeline that would link the two Koreas under the Russian-initiated project would have a 700 kilometer-long section pass through North Korean territory. 

The report also said that China believes the pipeline would be mutually beneficial for Seoul and Beijing as the South’s involvement could give it more bargaining power in negotiations over the price of Russian gas.