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The government wants to develop gas hydrate near Dokdo as a means to strengthen its dominion over the islets in the face of renewed Japanese territorial ambitions. Knowledge Economy Minister Lee Yoon-ho on Thursday told the National Assembly that development of gas hydrate near Dokdo would help Korea protect its territorial rights and secure energy resources.
Gas hydrate, dubbed ¡°burning ice,¡± is created when natural gas meets water at low temperature and high pressure. It is touted as a new energy resource. Korea successfully extracted gas hydrate in the Ulleung Basin in the East Sea in June last year, and in November found a huge deposit of gas hydrate estimated to be 600 million tons. The Ministry calculates this would be enough to meet 30 years of demand in Korea.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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