• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.157-172
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• 2002

This work aims to collect a biogeographic informations on the biota, alpine ecosystem, nature reserves, forest ecosystem of North Korea, and also to accumulate a basic data on the current situation and problem of the natural ecosystem of North Korea for the preparation of future cooperation and exchange between South and North Koreas. The obtained findings are as follow. First, North Korean biota contains 18,013 species, and consists of 6,710 plant species, including 3,860 species of vascular plants. Secondly, urgent investigation on the biogeographically important arctic-alpine and alpine plants and ecosystem, those are known to be endangered due to environmental change and global warming, is required. Thirdly, the conservations of diverse nature in North Korea are conducted by the introduction of various systems, such as nature preservation region, reserves for plant, animal and sea bird, and natural monuments. Fourthly, out of 9.5 million hectares of forest, one million hectares have already faced forest denudation, thus caused lots of damages for forest ecosystem. Sharp decline of North Korean forest land are due mainly to the expansion of terraced dry-field farming and deforestation. Recovery of denudated forest land should be approached by both South and North Korean sides to solve the problem of shortage of foods and restoration of natural ecosystem of North Korea.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.57-63
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• 2016

We summarize our preliminary study on the research cooperation method in the astronomy field between Republic of Korea (South Korea) and Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). To investigate the recent astronomical activities of North Korea, we have surveyed the published records of research papers and international collaborations associated with North Korean astronomers. We found only 4 astronomical papers among the identified 260 SCI papers related to North Korean researchers for the past 11 years. North Korean astronomers had very few interactions with the international astronomical society before rejoining IAU in 2012. Recently, North Korea made several astronomical research exchanges with China and Netherlands. They seemed to attend several international conferences and present their research results. We have studied possibilities to establish international networks to encourage the cooperation between South and North, and suggest to start collaboration in the historical astronomy. The collaboration can be expanded gradually to other fields in astronomy. There are many obvious political difficulties to have interactions with North Koreans. However, it will be necessary to make a long-term plan considering the reunification.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2013

PURPOSES: This study is to analyze different vehicle load effects for a bridge design of South and North Korea in order to prepare a common design specification and to secure the safety of transportation when the highway bridges of South and North Korea use together. METHODS: Based on the literature review, this study considers vehicle load effects by comparing different characteristics of the standard vehicle and other differences of the bridge design specification between South and North Korea. And structural modeling of three-span continuous PSC Beam Bridge are analyzed and the bridge capacity according different vehicle loads of South and North Korea is evaluated. RESULTS: The result of this study indicates that the bridge capacity and the design vehicle weight of North Korea are smaller than the bridge capacity and the design vehicle weight of South Korea. Also this study demonstrates that the design vehicle array and other characteristics of North Korea are very different than the design vehicle array and other characteristics of South Korea. CONCLUSIONS: It is expected that the outcomes of this study can be useful in the set-up of South-North Bridge Specification because similar previous studies are rarely found.

• Informatization Policy
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.3-27
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• 2015

The purpose of this research is to analyze research trend of 400 north korea information studies from 2010 to 2014 in korea. The research has narrowed the scope of analysis in five fields : political diplomacy, economy, the military, social culture, human rights in north korea. The result of this research shows that each field evenly counts for 20% of the entire research. According to the types of publications, not only research papers but also graduate theses and books comprise a large proportion of the north korea information study. In the past, the north korea information study focused on political diplomacy and the military, but this research revealed different outcome. Now the study of north korea information has wide variety of subject, but it requires a qualitative growth. It remains still the problem of credibility in research data.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.3-15
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• 2000

This paper aims to suggest for port development at the dawn of unification of South and North Korea. Referring to the case study of port development in the unified German and on the basis of investigation port traffic between the two Koreas, it is also concerned with direction for co-operation in the port sector and practical methods for implementing port development plans after and before the unification of the Korean peninsular.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.313-318
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• 2023

This study is about the actual condition of forest devastation in North Korea and the cooperative plan between South and North Korea for the restoration. In other words, it aims to derive policy implications for 'forest restoration' from the phenomenon of severe forest devastation in North Korea. It is because forest devastation in North Korea causes floods, droughts, and soil losses on the Korean Peninsula, adding to food shortages, and assuming that the future unification of the two Koreas, the cost of forest restoration in North Korea will increase environmentally and economically. Therefore, this study derives policy implications by examining the causes and conditions of forest devastation in North Korea and comparing the differences and commonalities of forest policies in South and North Korea through analysis of forest policy strategies in North Korea.

• Korea and Global Affairs
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.113-136
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to start from the recognition of the problem of why the sanctions of the international community could not indicate a great effect. In order to find answers to this question, this study focuses on China's aid to North Korea and analyzes the determinants of support for North Korea. Despite a tough international community's sanctions against North Korea, China has taken a dual stance on sanctions and support for North Korea. As for this dual attitude of China, this study approaches the internal and external situation of the support to the North with the rationale for the Two-level game theory. China's sanction against North Korea could be divided into two categories: external factors and domestic factors. These factors include strengthening supremacy in China, checking the US, playing a responsible role in China, securing resources in North Korea, sustaining stable growth in China, maintaining the legitimacy of China's socialist political system, and spreading the Beijing consensus. Based on the analysis of these factors, it could be expected that China's aid for North Korea will be official, informal, or continuous, and it will be difficult for the North to stop supporting North Korea or deteriorating North Korea- China relations.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.13 no.2 s.20
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• pp.37-45
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• 2007

Background : The 'Korean Medicine' is the traditional medicine in Korea, which has preserved its homogeneous quality in the long historic period. But since 1945 when Korea was divided, the Korean Medicine has also been independently developed in South and North Korea. As a Result, it has lost its national homogeneity. Objective : In order to illuminate the past and an actuality of the transition and medical system of traditional medicine in North Korea. Method : Overview a preceding research paper and the various data of traditional medicine in North Korea. Result : 1. The name of North Korea traditional medicine from 'East medicine' was changed history with 'Korean medicine', It with the method which combines a traditional medicine and a Western medicine is endeavoring to modernization. 2. The administrative systems which take charge of the traditional medicine of North Korea are the organization which manages the Korean medicine and the Bureau of The Korean medicine production control. Also there is relation of the Bureau of the treatment prevention. 3. There are 8 medical colleges other than P'yongyang medical college. There is 6 years 6 months and 7 years 7 month follows in curriculum. Conclusions : It evaluated the past and an actuality of the transition and medical system of traditional medicine in North Korea.

• STI Policy Review
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.1-12
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• 2011

North Korea is now under the pressure of international sanctions due to its nuclear tests, firing of long-range ballistic missiles, the sinking of the ROK naval frigate the Cheonan, and the artillery attack on Yeonpyeong Island that killed four people. To overcome the burden of sanctions North Korea has exerted various efforts to reconstruct its industries. However, it is very unlikely that these reconstruction efforts would produce significant results due to the structural problems of the antiquated infrastructure of North Korean industries. In the future, it is expected that South Korea will have to cooperate with North Korea for the reconstruction of the North Korean economy after the North Korean nuclear issue will be peacefully resolved. South Korean government has to prepare for the reconstruction with careful planning based on analysis of North Korean industries. But, the number of previous studies that have analyzed the technological level of North Korean industries are quite limited. In preparation for the future inter-Korean industrial cooperation, this study tries to analyze the technological level of North Korean industries. The steel industry has been selected as the focus for the main analysis of this study due to the importance of the steel industry as one of key infrastructure industries. Additionally, this study tests the sustainability of the North Korean steel industry by looking into the possibility of whether the North Korean steel industry can sustain or grow while maintaining global competitiveness in the future when the market opens to the world. Such analysis is expected to contribute to the joint prosperity of two Koreas in the short term and the reduction of unification costs in long term.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1338-1346
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• 1998

North Korea has been experiencing a serious food shortage. However, the extent and magnitude of malnutrition and health problems are virturally unknown because a nationwide food and nutritional survey has never been conducted. To get a better udnerstanding of the situation., an exhaustive literature search on the health and nutritiona conditions of North Koreans was performed. We also obtained anthropometric data on 274 North Korean Defectors who are recently resettlers in the South. Some(137) measurements were taken at the time of entry to the South, and the remaining data was from the health and nutrition mail survey conducted by us on North Korean refugeee re-settlers. Health and inutritional status of North Koreans was found to be less than desirable as shown in high infant mortality rates, high mortality and morbidity rates of malnutriton-related infectious deseases, and smaller body sizes. Striking differences were noted in all of the above health and nutrition indicators between north and South Koreans. Considering the fact that North and South Koreans are homogeneous in their genetic back-ground, ours study results clearly demonstrate that the health and nutrition of North Koreas has deteriorated with the dhronic food shortage, which might have sorsened with a recent food crissi. The smaller and thinner adult stature proevailing in North Korea could play a significant negative role in the country's economy, since lower lean body mass has been associated with reduced work productivity that could hinder economic growth and development.