Russia has launched offshore oil and gas exploration activities on North Korea’s continental shelf in the Sea of Japan after allocating nearly $13 million in state funding for the project, according to expedition data and maritime tracking sources.

Specialists from the Saint Petersburg-based VNIIOkeangeologia have departed on an expedition aboard the research vessel Pavel Gordienko, The Caspian Post reports, citing NK News.

Between May and June 2026, the team is expected to carry out gas-hydro-geochemical surveys of the seabed within North Korea’s economic zone. The expedition is scheduled to last no longer than 33 days during the May-June period.

The vessel’s latest known transponder signal was recorded 33 nautical miles east of the port city of Rason.

Another Russian vessel, Ordovik, operated by Sevmorneftegeofizika - a subsidiary of Rosgeo - is also active near North Korea’s coastline.

According to MarineTraffic data, the vessel has remained off the coast of Chongjin since April 29.

Last year, Russia’s First Deputy Finance Minister Irina Okladnikova told the State Duma that President Vladimir Putin had ordered an assessment of hydrocarbon potential in the deep-water basin of the Sea of Japan near 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 stated that a detailed work plan would be prepared after obtaining the required geophysical data.

Efforts to discover oil in North Korea date back to the Soviet era, when no major deposits were found on the Korean continental shelf. Russia expert Chris Mandei said Moscow’s participation in developing North Korean resources could become a “turning point” for the country if Russia moves toward large-scale investment.

Consultant geologist Michael Rego said North Korea’s eastern coastline likely contains natural gas and possibly oil, adding that there have been reports of offshore oil shows that have yet to be verified using modern technology.