Building Data on Natural Disaster of North Korea and Cooperation Strategies
- Author Kang, Taek Goo
- Researchers Jung, Giwoong; Hong, Yun Geun; Kim, Il Gi; Lee, Jun Ho
-
Date
2021-12-31
Ⅰ. Background and Objective
o Rationales
ㅇ According to indicators presented in international institutions’ reports, North Korea has been experiencing increasingly severe damage and impacts of natural disasters every year.
ㅇ In an effort to cope with natural disasters, North Korea has been developing a national response system. The central government launched the State Committee for Emergency and Disaster Management in 2014. However, it is doubtful whether it is fulfilling its obligations.
o Objective
ㅇ Based on the results of past studies, this research reviews natural disaster occurrences over the 30 years from 1991 to 2020 in North Korea and tracks the country’s response efforts to formulate cooperative strategies in preparation for reunification.
Ⅱ. North Korea’s Natural Disasters in the Past 30 Years (1991-2020)
o Key statistics (1991-2020)
ㅇ From 1991 to 2020, a total of 272 natural disasters had occurred in North Korea. Among them, 88 events had hit the country simultaneously with other disasters.
- Looking at the trend of 10-year average, the number of natural disasters averaged at 5.0 in 1991 to 2000. The figure climbed to 11.0 between 2001 and 2010, and to 11.2 in the 2011-2020 period.
- In 2011, North Korea suffered 28 natural disasters, the highest number during the thirty-year period, including typhoons, floods, torrential rains, gales, tidal waves, heavy snowfalls, droughts, earthquakes, yellow dust, cold waves, land collapse/rockslides. Eight occasions took place concurrently with other events.
ㅇ The most frequent disaster was torrential rains, h
o Rationales
ㅇ According to indicators presented in international institutions’ reports, North Korea has been experiencing increasingly severe damage and impacts of natural disasters every year.
ㅇ In an effort to cope with natural disasters, North Korea has been developing a national response system. The central government launched the State Committee for Emergency and Disaster Management in 2014. However, it is doubtful whether it is fulfilling its obligations.
o Objective
ㅇ Based on the results of past studies, this research reviews natural disaster occurrences over the 30 years from 1991 to 2020 in North Korea and tracks the country’s response efforts to formulate cooperative strategies in preparation for reunification.
Ⅱ. North Korea’s Natural Disasters in the Past 30 Years (1991-2020)
o Key statistics (1991-2020)
ㅇ From 1991 to 2020, a total of 272 natural disasters had occurred in North Korea. Among them, 88 events had hit the country simultaneously with other disasters.
- Looking at the trend of 10-year average, the number of natural disasters averaged at 5.0 in 1991 to 2000. The figure climbed to 11.0 between 2001 and 2010, and to 11.2 in the 2011-2020 period.
- In 2011, North Korea suffered 28 natural disasters, the highest number during the thirty-year period, including typhoons, floods, torrential rains, gales, tidal waves, heavy snowfalls, droughts, earthquakes, yellow dust, cold waves, land collapse/rockslides. Eight occasions took place concurrently with other events.
ㅇ The most frequent disaster was torrential rains, h