Toronto:
Denmark plans to plant its flag on the North Pole to lay claim to the top of the world, according to reports here.
Quoting reports from Denmark based on a leaked government document, the Canadian media said the Scandinavian nation plans to plant its flag on the North Pole and at five other sites in the Arctic region. Canada and Russia are the other two contenders for the top of the world.
The fight for the North Pole assumes significance as global warming is leading to melting of the Arctic ice cap which will trigger stampede for oil and mineral resources buried under its bed.
According to the Canadian daily Toronto Star, the Danish claim "could land the kingdom in a three-way territorial dispute with Canada and Russia as all countries eye the oil, minerals and other resources buried beneath the melting ice and seabed.''
The paper said Denmark plans to unveil its policy on the North Pole by releasing its "Strategy for the Arctic Regions 2011-2020'' next month.
Denmark has the deadline of 2012 to make its submission to the eight-member Arctic Council - a UN body that is managing the Arctic boundary disputes.
Canada has to make its submission by 2013.