Abstract
According to the North Korean documents , North Korean government have emphasized the development of the Koryo medicine (traditional korean medicine) and encouraged the combination of the Koryo and the modern medicine. It is regarded that this attitude arose from the ruler's will toward independency in the medical field and at the same time the lack of modern medical resources . Combinations of the Koryo medicine and the modern medicine in the clinical textbooks are classified as follows: first, mixed medication of the Koryo and the modern medicine. Second, combination of the traditional acupuncture(or moxibustion) and the medication of modern medicines. Third, injection of modern medicines at acupoints. Forth, an intramuscular or an intravenous injection of the Koryo medicine. Fifth, anesthesia using Koryo medicine. Sixth, simple surgery at the acupoints. Lastly, combination of injection and the traditional therapy(eg. acupuncture, moxibustion and cupping) Despite of many achievements in the field of combined medical treatment, recent economic failure and severe famine for several years caused collapse of the health care delivery system in North Korea, and it is hard to find combined practices actually.
