• Atmosphere
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.411-422
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• 2017

The aim of this research is to review recent trends in weather and climate research in North Korea. We selected North Korean journal 'Weather and Hydrology' for the last 10 years (2007-2016), and identified trends in research subject, researchers, and affiliations. Furthermore, we analyzed the major achievements and trends by research sector. Our main results are same as follows. The largest number of researches on 'modernization and informatization on prediction' have been carried out in North Korea's recent meteorological and climatological research. This could be implicated that the scope of national science policy directly affected the promotion of specific research field. Especially, North Korea was evaluated to be concentrating its efforts on numerical model research and development. The numerical model which enables very short-term (6 hours) rainfall forecast which using ensemble Kalman filter data assimilation method (4D EnKF) was developed. In addition, development of automatic weather system and improvement of the data transfer system were promoted. However, the result reveals that the automated real-time data transfer system was not fully equipped yet. These results could be used as a basic data for meteorological cooperation between South and North Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.23-33
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• 2020

With growing expectations for economic cooperation between the two Koreas, there is much interest in participating in the construction of infrastructure in North Korea. In particular, water and sewage infrastructure is the four major social infrastructures in addition to housing, transportation, electricity and telecommunications. North Korea is known to have severe water pollution and ecosystem destruction in major rivers, water pollution and soil pollution in mining areas are serious, and water and sewage infrastructures in cities other than Pyongyang are known to be weak. Preemptive investment in water supply and drainage in North Korea is the foundation for securing the quality of life of the North Korean and is the foundation of public health and industry. It is a leading investment to reduce the cost of unification and is a new growth engine for the water reloded industry. In this study, we proposed a plan to exchange and cooperate in water environment for building water infrastructure of North Korea by examining the data related to water quality, water resources, water disaster, related legal system and human resources exchange situations in North Korea.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.95-106
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• 2003

This study attempts to identify the characteristics of the structure of mathematics textbooks of North Korean high schools. The previous researches on the mathematics textbooks of North Korea show that North Korean mathematics textbooks have a linear structure, which is different from a spiral structure of South Korean textbooks. However, this study found that the textbooks of North Korea published after 1994 indicate that some sections reveal a spiral structure. In addition, most sections of North Korean mathematics textbooks are collectively composed, particularly so in the section of algebra.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.641-650
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• 2008

This paper reviews the infrastructure of the water supply and sewerage system in North Korea. North Korean has similar legal protection to preserve water environment that can be seen in Republic of Korea, but North Korean regulations seemed lack of detailed measures. The critical pollution problems of rivers and lakes in the northern part of peninsula is mainly due to the lack of sewage collection system and poor treatment works. It has been estimated that less than 20% of sewers are connected to the wastewater treatment plants. Although the availability of water resources seemed sufficient, North Koreans suffer the lack of the drinking water supply which needs an urgent attention. Based on the analysis, it has been suggested that the reconstruction of North Korean water and sewage infrastructure needs at least 17.5 trillion Korean Won.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.488-498
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• 2018

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the influence of trauma experiences and social adjustment on health-related quality of life in North Korean defectors. Methods: The subjects were 117 North Korean defectors living in B and Y city. The data were collected from September 1 to September 20, 2014, and analyzed by the SPSS/WIN 18.0 program. Results: Significant differences were found in the health-related quality of life with respect to the subjects' education, marriage status, types of dwelling, family types, duration of residence in South Korea, jobs in South Korea and in North Korea, families left in North Korea or other surrounding countries, and subjective health status. Health-related quality of life is negatively related to trauma experiences during escape from North Korea and during their life in South Korea. Health-related quality of life positively is related to social adjustment. The meaningful variables which influenced the subjects'health-related quality include social adjustment, job in South Korea, job in North Korea, current family structure, and trauma experiences in South Korea. Total explanatory power of these factors for health-related quality in North Korean Defectors is 43.0% and social adjustment is the most influential factor. Conclusion: Therefore, in order to enhance health-related quality of life in North Korean defectors, it is necessary for them to increase social adjustment and decrease trauma experiences. In addition, methods are needed to provide job opportunities, better education and family services for North Korean defectors.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2002

This study was conducted to compare protected areas of South and North Korea based on international conservation criteria and recommend new fundamental directions for nature conservation policy. International conservation criteria used by this research were the 1994 IUCN protected area categories, composed of 6 management categories. Despite a variety of types and names of protected areas created by different domestic legislations, South Korea was revealed to have only two types of protected areas, Category IV and V, indicating the significant lack of ecological diversity and representativeness in its protected area system. Shockingly, there are no national parks meeting IUCN criteria in South Korea. On the other hand, North Korea has three IUCN Categories of II, III, IV and thus more balanced and ecologically representative protected area network than South Korea. Especially, North Korea maintains 9 national parks to be officially recognized by IUCN and UN. However, both South and North Korea should make sincere effort to have new and well-designed protected area system including all IUCN Categories I -Ⅵ and particularly a minimum area in the stricter protected area categories.

• Korea and Global Affairs
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.71-96
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• 2017

This study speculates on responses to the nuclear threats of North Korea and mutual assistance and cooperation between South Korea, the U.S. and China for the unification of the Korean Peninsula. As for the North Koreas nuclear issue and unification of the Korean Peninsula, South Korea is the subject of national division, the U.S. is a responsible country in international issues and does not have diplomatic ties with North Korea. China is a traditional socialist nation and a supporter of North Korea. As North Korea's strategic weapons including nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles are international issues, to defend against Kim Jung-Eun's unexpected acts, the three countries should actively cooperate with each other and develop countermeasures. However, with respect to the road map of the North Koreas issue, there are subtle differences between the U.S. and China in recognition of and sanctions against North Korea as a resolution of the U..N. Security Council. The U.S. has continued a deterrence policy and sanctions against North Korea based on joint threats between South Korea and the U.S. while China has showed a negative position in the process of solving the North Korean nuclear issue because of the unstable security derived from the U.S. 's intervention in the Korean peninsula. North Korea should change its diplomatic policy in a more concrete way towards world peace although it has continued trade of strategic weapons with Middle Eastern countries to maintain its political system. For example, to restart the summit talks and open multilateral security channels. Although the issue of unification of the Korean peninsula should be resolved by South and North Korea themselves, it is strange that South and North Korea depend on the logic of powerful countries for the resolution of a national problem. As for North Koreas nuclear and the Unification issues, peaceful solutions presented by South Korea seem more persuasive than the solution presented by North Korea which did not secure any international support. However, South Korea, the U.S. and China need to develop uni-directional two-tract strategies for sanctions against North Korea and talks with North Korea for peace on the Korean peninsula, and should continue to support the economic independence of North Korea.

• Korea and Global Affairs
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.85-108
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• 2017

This study speculated on a continuous issue of North Korean defectors and strategies to improve North Korean human rights. North Korean defectors have immigrated to South Korea continuously since the late 1990s. Their immigration was motivated by low financial status in the harsh marching period of North Korea until the mid-1990s. However, the defection motives changed like this: planned defection, family-based group defection and future-oriented defection. The North Korean defectors had had severe human rights abuses as illegal immigrants in the blind spots of human rights of China and the third nations until they were admitted to South Korea after defection. Although South Korea tried to help them consistently both in public and private ways, it was not satisfactory. Therefore, the government and private sectors should pay more consistent attention to the human rights issue. As the National Assembly passed the North Korean Human Rights Act on March 2016, the government should recognize the issue of North Korean defectors as that of universal value and a national issue, and cooperate each other nationally and internationally in diverse ways.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 2012

Objective : Psychiatry in North Korea is believed to seem very different from psychiatry in South Korea. However, there is nearly no information regarding psychiatry in North Korea until now. Our study aimed to get information about North Korean psychiatry. Methods : Three North Korean defectors in South Korea, whose clinical experience as medical doctors in North Korea was over 10 years, were recruited. They underwent the semi-structured interview, content of which included the clinical experience with psychiatric patients, the details of psychiatry, the treatment of psychiatric patients, the stigma of mental illness, and the suicide, in North Korea. Results : In North Korea, psychiatric department was called as 49th(pronounced as Sahsip-gu-ho in Korean). Only patients with vivid psychotic symptoms came to psychiatric department. Non-psychotic depression or anxiety disorders usually were not dealt in psychiatry. The etiology of mental illness seemed to be confined to biological factors including genetic predisposition. Psychosocial or psychodynamic factors as etiology of mental illness appeared to be ignored. Psychiatry was apparently separated from political or ideological issues. The mainstay of psychiatric treatment is the inpatient admission and out-of-date therapy such as insulin coma therapy. Stigma over mental illness was common in North Korea. Suicide is considered as a betrayal to his/her nation, and has been reported to be very rare. Conclusion : The situation of psychiatry in North Korea is largely different from that of South Korea. Although some aspects of North Korean psychiatry are similar to psychiatry in former socialist countries, North Korean psychiatry is considered to have also its unique characteristics.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.9 no.12
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• pp.429-437
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to development of North Korea tour product. From 10 years ago, Kumgangsan tour started with peace unikorea. But only south korea and north korea is uncertain on political issue also always tour is influenced. Kumgangsan, Gaesung and baekdusan tour is going to renew. So North Korea tour product is continuos of space connection of adjoining land under Kumgangsan, Gaesung and baekdusan tour product.