Russia launches oil, gas exploration in North Korea

Russia has begun offshore exploration for oil and gas on North Korea’s continental shelf in the Sea of Japan, after Moscow allocated nearly $13 million in budget funding for the project, NK News has reported, citing expedition data and maritime tracking sources.

The outlet said specialists from the Saint Petersburg-based VNIIOkeangeologia institute have departed on an expedition aboard the research vessel Pavel Gordienko.

Between May and June 2026, they are expected to conduct gas-hydro-geochemical surveys of the seabed within North Korea’s economic zone. The expedition is scheduled to last no more than 33 days during the May–June period.

The vessel’s last known transponder signal was detected 33 nautical miles east of the port of Rason.

Another Russian vessel, Ordovik, operated by Sevmorneftegeofizika — a subsidiary of Rosgeo — is also operating near North Korea’s coast.

According to MarineTraffic data, it has been stationed off Chongjin since April 29.

Last year, Russia’s First Deputy Finance Minister Irina Okladnikova told the State Duma that President Vladimir Putin had instructed an assessment of hydrocarbon potential in the deep-water basin of the Sea of Japan off North Korea’s coast.

A cooperation agreement on hydrocarbon exploration between Moscow and Pyongyang was signed in November 2023. Russia’s Ministry of Natural Resources previously said that a detailed work plan would be prepared after receiving the necessary geophysical data.

Attempts to find oil in North Korea date back to the Soviet era, when no major deposits were identified on the Korean shelf. Russia expert Chris Mandei of Dongseo University said Moscow’s involvement in developing North Korean resources could mark a “turning point” for the country if it considers large-scale investment.

Consultant geologist Michael Rego said North Korea’s eastern coast likely contains gas and possibly oil, noting that there have been reports of offshore oil shows that have not yet been confirmed with modern technology.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov