Denmark has plans to claim the North Pole as part of its territory, dpa cited a newspaper as saying Tuesday, quoting a draft report compiled by the Foreign Ministry. Denmark would by the latest in 2014 make claims to "five areas around the Faroe Islands and Greenland, including the North Pole," according to the newspaper Information. The information was included in Denmark's upcoming Arctic Strategy. Melting sea ice in the Arctic region has contributed to growing interest in the region as it allows for new potential shipping routes, and also opens up new areas for exploration of oil and gas and other minerals. Four years ago, Russia planted a flag in the seabed of the North Pole - more than 4,000 metres below the surface - as part of its claims. Both Denmark and Russia are members of the eight-nation Arctic Council that also groups Canada, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the United States.
