• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.103-111
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• 2013

Objectives : Herbal medicines were used a lot in the Northeast Asia, traditionally. However, the pharmacopoeia standards in South Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, and North Korea including many other Asia are different and cause confusion. If the origins are not belonging to same genus, it should be careful to distinguish. In this study, herbal medicines in the pharmacopoeia were analyzed for different genus of origins in order to identify the disruptive items for each country. Methods : The scientific names of herbal medicines (plant based) was analyzed origins from Pharmacopoeias of Republic of Korea, People's Republic of China, Japan, Taiwan, and Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The origins specified differently were examined. Especially, the items which have different genus were analyzed in detail and confirmed for correct scientific name. Results : The analyzed herbal medicines in Pharmacopoeia were all 753 items. 320 items were in only one country's Pharmacopoeia. 237 items were in more than two countries' Pharmacopoeia, but their origins were same on each other. The items which have different genus were 35 items. Conclusions : In general, species belonging to the same genus have similar ecological, morphological, and pharmacological activity. However, species with different genus may have different medicinal ingredients and pharmacological activity. Thus, the items which have same name but different genus are required to analyze for comparison of pharmacological activity. Also, other species belonging to the different genus should be used for different items.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.25-37
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• 2021

Objectives : Herbal medicines have been used a lot traditionally in Northeast Asia. In particular, various Apiaceae plants (Umbelliferae) are widely used for medicinal purposes among countries. However, the original species designated in each pharmacopoeia standards, are sometimes different and confuse. In this study, herbal medicines in the pharmacopoeia were analyzed for Apiaceae taxa to compare the taxonomic identity and different taxonomic opinions for each country based on their local flora and recent taxonomic studies. Methods : The scientific names of herbal medicines were analyzed origins from Pharmacopoeias of Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, People's Republic of China, Taiwan, and Japan. Especially, we compared their local floras, international plant scientific name database, and recently published taxonomic studies to confirm the correct scientific name. Results : The analyzed apiaceous herbal medicines in pharmacopoeias were all 21 items and 39 taxa; the highest percentage, genus Angelica (21%) and roots including rhizomes (62%) the registered genera and medicinal parts, respectively. Eleven items were in all five country's pharmacopoeias. Four items were in more than two countries' pharmacopoeias. Six items were registered in only one pharmacopoeia. Conclusions : Our research provides necessary information, e.g., corrected scientific names of original species based on taxonomic species concepts, taxonomic reviews, and figures of medicines. These results will help in the understanding of the apiaceous taxa among the five countries' pharmacopoeias. Moreover, these extensive nomenclatural reviews of authentic apiaceous taxa will help for the next revision of Korea Pharmacopoeia.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.123-148
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• 2012

Deforestation and forest degradation in Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) accelerated from the mid 1980s through the economic crisis in 1990s and is still happening. DPRK has conducted afforestation and reforestation activities against this trend. However there are not many official documents on achievement of forest rehabilitation in DPRK. "Rodong Shinmun," as an official newspaper published by North Korean Workers Party, represents governmental policies and is one of a few accessible information on DPRK which is available in Republic of Korea (ROK). This paper aims to investigate the national forest policies of the DPRK represented in Rodong Shinmun. Total of 499 articles using the word 'Sanlim (forest)' and 'Rimsan (forest product)' in the title of articles were selected for content analysis. The national forest plans and forest policy instruments contained in the selected articles were analyzed. The subjects of represented forest policies were classified into four groups; forestation, forest management, land management and forest protection or conservation. The focus of forest policy was changed from economic utilization of forest resources such as timber production in the 1990s to forest protection in the 2000s. Rodong Shinmun reported more frequently about regulatory instruments and informational instruments than the economic instruments. Official commendation and awards were the main incentives given to the people who contributed to forestry achievements. In particular, forest policies were emphasized by Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and afforestation and forest protection were described as patriotic activities in the Rodong Shinmun. In conclusion, this research revealed that Rodong Shinmun plays a role as a means for introducing, propagating and instigating forest policies in the society of the DPRK. The findings help to understand the forest policies of the DPRK which could be useful when designing development aids for DPRK.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.481-487
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• 2023

After conducting a hydrogen bomb test and launching an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in 2017, The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea, D.P.R.K.) declared the completion of its national nuclear capabilities. Currently, North Korea is refusing all nuclear inspections, but the possibility of nuclear inspections and the denuclearization process on the Korean Peninsula still exists. The Republic of Korea (South Korea, Rep. of Korea) has numerous reasons as a neighboring country to participate in North Korea's nuclear inspections and denuclearization, including technological capabilities, geographical proximity, and linguistic benefits. This study assumes nuclear inspections and verification within North Korea and aims to propose scenarios for the transportation and operation of personnel and equipment. The data and results compiled through this research are anticipated to serve as foundational information for future inspections and verifications on the Korean Peninsula. Furthermore, it is assessed that they could contribute to the development of strategies in preparation for participation in denuclearization efforts.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.64 no.11
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• pp.552-558
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• 2021

The food shortage in North Korea is a serious situation that has spanned the mid-1990s to today. North Korean refugee children, even those born in North Korea, China, or South Korea, had poor nutritional status at birth; thus, their growth and nutritional status should be continuously monitored. This review focused on the health status of North Korean children and the nutritional status of North Korean refugee children upon settling in South Korea. Immediately after entering South Korea, North Korean refugee children were shorter and lighter than South Korean children and had a serious nutritional status. Over time, their nutrition status improved, but they remained shorter and lighter than South Korean children. A new obesity problem was also observed. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously monitor their growth and nutritional status.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.53 no.10
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• pp.705-711
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• 2015

South Korea's oral health care non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have played a crucial role in South-North relations, although a formal intergovernmental relationship is difficult to establish and also easily breaks down. Humanitarian assistance by NGOs in the oral health care sector is an area that receives wide support from South Korean society for its urgency and for its appeal to humanity. This humanitarian assistance started in the late 1990's and continued to grow until the late 2000's. This assistance continued throughout the tension between the two administrations that resulted in a radical decrease in overall assistance from South Korea to North Korea. However, concerns remain about the transparency and efficiency of NGO activities. In this article, the NGOs and their major activities are delineated, and South Korean legislation is examined. A current act, the Law on the Development of South and North Korean Relations serves as a basis for governmental regulation and support of NGO's. Humanitarian assistance in the oral healthcare area is directly related to the oral health of the North Korean people, and it should not be influenced by political changes. Long-term planning and close discussions between NGOs, their North Korean counterparts, and the South Korean government are needed. NGOs need to overcome their shortcomings such as a lack of expertise and shortage of financial support. For this, NGOs must improve their administration transparency and professionalism.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.63-67
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• 2018

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or the DPRK, is one of the poorest country in world facing chronic economic, energy and food security issues. Prolonged improper management of economic and natural resources has led to extreme poverty, malnutrition and critically vulnerability to nature's forces. Presistent deforestation and forest degradation in the DPRK has national and global consequences which has attracted attention from international community, whose offering financial and technical assistance for targeted interventions. Through REDD+ programs, the DPRK has the opportunity to establish its credentials as a responsible nation while improving the quality of life of its population. This study offers an enabling context under which suitable climate change action related to forestry can be identified and implemented in the DPRK.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.129-141
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• 2024

Purpose: The study investigated the relationships between key variables, including the level of parenting knowledge, acculturative stress, depression, and the strengths and difficulties associated with their children's emotions and behavior, among North Korean refugee mothers who faced the challenging task of adapting to Korean society while raising their children. Methods: A descriptive study design was used. Data were collected from 130 North Korean refugee mothers between September and November 2023. Results: The participants had very limited parenting knowledge, and 82.3% of them scored 21 or higher on the depression scale used in community epidemiological studies. Higher levels of parenting knowledge and lower levels of depression were associated with lower levels of acculturative stress. Moreover, higher levels of depression were associated with more emotional and behavioral difficulties in children. Maternal depression, age, and employment status were identified as factors that influenced emotional and behavioral problems in preschool-aged children. Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of providing parent education and mental health support programs for North Korean refugee families in order to improve parents' parenting skills and emotional well-being.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.38-46
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• 2022

This study is based on crane fly specimens collected during more than 80 years, starting from 1938 through 2019, in the Republic of Korea and Democratic People's Republic of Korea and are in collections maintained at the United States National Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, USA; the Snow Entomological Museum, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA; and the National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon, South Korea. Pilaria crane flies are aquatic and semiaquatic, developing in fast running and stagnant water bodies and in wet muddy places at the margins of water pools. Such habitats usually prevail at lower altitudes, but these areas most often are used for agriculture and human settlement, making natural habitats scarce and fragmented. Pilaria crane flies are rare, thus it is not surprising that genus was left unnoticed by previous researchers. The genus Pilaria Sintenis, 1889 with two species P. melanota Alexander, 1922 and P. simulans Savchenko, 1983, is a new record for the Korean Peninsula. We present general information on the genus, redescriptions of species based on Korean specimens, illustrations of both sexes, elevation range, period of activity, habitat information, general distribution, and a distribution map for the Korean Peninsula for each species.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.117-127
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• 2022

This study is based on crane fly specimens collected during an 80-year period (1937-2017) in the Republic of Korea and Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and are in collections maintained at the United States National Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, USA; the Snow Entomological Museum, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA; and the National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon, South Korea. These crane flies are developing in wet places which usually prevail at lower altitudes, but such areas are often used for agriculture and human settlements, making natural habitats scarce and fragmented. Probably because of that, Limnophila crane flies are rare on the Korean Peninsula and were unnoticed by previous researchers. The genus Limnophila Macquart, 1834 with three species being new record for the Korean Peninsula: L. (Limnophila) japonica Alexander, 1913, L. (L.) pictipennis (Meigen, 1818) and L. (L.) politostriata Alexander, 1934a. General information are presented for each species, such as on genus and subgenus, redescriptions of species based on Korean specimens, illustrations of both sexes, elevation range, period of activity, habitat information, general distribution, and a distribution map for the Korean Peninsula.