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EU steps up subsea cable buildout to Japan and South Korea

Asia.Nikkei • November 2, 2026

While Brussels views project as critical infrastructure, Tokyo sees it as commercial venture

Oden is a research vessel that the Polar Connect project has used to survey and map the Arctic. (Courtesy of Polar Connect)

LONDON -- The European Union is working on plans to lay Arctic submarine cables to connect to Japan and South Korea via Greenland, although a lack of urgency in Tokyo is a drag on the project, experts said.

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This article is one source in a clustered incident — the cluster page carries the summary, timeline and every other outlet covering it.

EU Advances Arctic Subsea Cable Project to Japan and South Korea The European Union is progressing on plans to establish submarine cables connecting Greenland to Japan and South Korea, as part of its Arctic Strategy announced on October 20, 2026. The initiative, known as the Pan-Arctic Cable System (PACS), aims to enhance secure connectivity in the Arctic region. However, the project faces delays due to a perceived lack of urgency from Japan, which views the endeavor as a commercial venture rather than critical infrastructure. The PACS development is supported by six organizations, including Cinia Oy and NORDUnet A/S, and is co-funded through the Connecting Europe Facility Digital program. Potential extensions to Canada and South Korea are also being considered, but these are not part of the current strategy. The EU emphasizes the importance of this project for resilient connectivity in the Arctic, which is increasingly vital for international relations and commerce. 6 sources 26

EU steps up subsea cable buildout to Japan and South Korea

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