북극항로를 둘러싼 국제규범 체계와 그 한계 = International Legal Framework and Limitations Surrounding the Arctic Shipping Routes

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The decline of Arctic sea ice caused by climate change has increased the viability of Arctic maritime routes. The Northern Sea Route and the Northwest Passage have attracted attention as alternatives to traditional routes such as the Suez Canal. Their emergence, however, has intensified legal tensions between coastal State regulatory authority and the navigational rights of other States.
This study examines the legal status of Arctic shipping routes under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Through doctrinal analysis and State practice, it explores the relationship between innocent passage (Articles 17, 19, and 24), enforcement jurisdiction in the exclusive economic zone (Article 220), and the ice-covered areas provision (Article 234), with particular attention to the scope and limits of coastal State regulatory powers.
The study argues that Arctic shipping governance should be understood as a shared responsibility framework involving coastal States, flag States, and international standards developed under the International Maritime Organization. Within this framework, the Polar Code functions as a minimum regulatory benchmark rather than a legal basis for unilateral coastal control.
Ultimately, Arctic shipping illustrates the evolving balance between navigational freedom and environmental protection in international maritime law under climate change.