Moscow has claimed the polar region since at least the days of the Bolsheviks, and argued that the geological data backed up this claim in 2002 in an application to the U.N. committee that administers the Law of the Sea. The U.N. rejected Moscow's application, citing a lack of evidence.
Also see here and here.
Other countries, including Canada, Denmark and Norway make claims here too. The US and most other countries regard these as international waters.
As to Hanns Island. The dispute between Canada and Denmark is longstanding with both countries staking claim to its 1.3 square kilometers. I have no idea what the Canadian minister might have said about the Danes planting their flag there nor do I think it's particularly relevant. I think most Canadians regards the issue as a joke.
Regardless of what Canada has said on other occasions, I think the Canadian Minister is spot on here. A country trying to stake a claim to 1.2 million square kilometers of international waters, roughly half the Arctic seabed, by launching a couple of minisubs and planting a flag is, I reiterate, opéra bouffe.
The Arctic needs to remain international or it will be destroyed. That's the simple truth. "My True Religion Is Kindness" -- The Dalai Lama
An "opéra bouffe" is, in its entirety, a creation of the Western media. Russia was working at the moment on collection of the relevant information to be submitted to the relevant UN Committee. In this respect, it's very relevant what the Canada said regarding the Hans Island, which is a true dispute about sovereign territory, not an insinuated one.
And finally, even your amazingly authoritative information source - USA Today - mentioned that "Thick sea ice threatens to thwart the expedition" right at the beginning (2nd paragraph). I find it absolutely ridiculous then that you said "...North Pole, newly accessible as summer sea ice disappears...".
By the way, my personal opinion is that "exclusive economic zones" should never extend more than 200 miles. Beyond that everything is international. Carving up the world's oceans into national fiefdoms is a recipe for ecological disaster.
You can be snide about USA today if you like, but I gave you two other sources as well, and if you spent 5 minutes on the Internet you could easily find 50 more reputable sources that say the same thing.
As to the Arctic sea ice, the conclusion of scientists at the latest meeting of the American Geophysical Union this month is that summer sea ice will probably be completely gone by 2012. "My True Religion Is Kindness" -- The Dalai Lama
Regarding North Pole accessibility - it WAS heavily iced at the point in time when the submersion has occurred, and thus projections on what might happen by 2012 are completely irrelevant and cannot diminish the technical feat that has been accomplished.
Yes, I could spend 5 hours on the Internet and find the ultimate source of the words you've cited. It doesn't really matter if they were repeated in a cozillion other "sources" - it's nothing but a herd instinct in action.
