• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.405-421
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• 2019

International aid to North Korea remains far below the humanitarian needs of vulnerable people. This paper examines the trajectory of international humanitarian assistance to North Korea over the last two decades with the focus on its decline in the context of the country's nuclear standoff and corresponding stringent sanctions. In so doing, the paper addresses major problems associated with North Korea's reception of foreign aid and operational constraints placed on humanitarian activities in the country. It shows that humanitarian assistance to North Korea has been largely shaped by geopolitical dynamics. A survey of UN reports and statistics also suggests a shifting trend in recent international aid to North Korea. The decline of aid and multiple operational obstacles faced by humanitarian organizations, for instance, have led to a fall in agricultural support and a proportional rise in health and related services. While UN Security Council resolutions include an exemption provision, humanitarian assistance to North Korea has been constrained by stringent sanctions, which have led to adverse consequences for the civilian population. In this regard, the paper suggests some policy directions for international aid to North Korea amidst negotiations over denuclearization, while stressing an urgent need to address the negative impact of sanctions on vulnerable groups in the country.

• 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 Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.73-92
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• 2019

Disasters and crises are spreading across the globe, and there has been an increase in the number disasters in northeast Asia, such as earthquakes in Sichuan, China, and East Japan. This study aims to propose a plan to attract facilities from the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD). Although there are no prior domestic studies, the study focuses on the role of intangible benefits, values, and economic outcomes in attracting facilities. Based on an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of Korea's host environment, using the UN's annual report and Korea's overseas emergency relief data, the study will analyze the status of relevant UN organizations and derive detailed strategies. In order to attract facilities from the UNHRD, it will be necessary to build and promote a cooperative system with domestic and foreign NGO experts in humanitarian assistance and joint proposals from government departments and local governments. In the long-run, it will be necessary to work closely with the relevant UN agencies to achieve strategic progress.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.63-74
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• 2023

This study compared news coverage of national and international disasters, Hurricane Katrina and the Haiti Earthquake, using textual analysis of The New York Times and The Washington Post. The results reveal that media framing of the historical cases developed in three stages upon the development of post-disaster relief: (1) Call for humanitarian assistance; (2) New Orleans under anarchy and hopelessness vs. Haiti under scrutiny with hope; and (3) Katrina effects. By framing the outcomes of the hurricane as the "Katrina effect," the media used the disaster as a reference point to explain other economic and political issues. In addition, analysis of relevant statements and press releases confirmed that different social actors involved in the relief process, such as donors, facilitators, and beneficiaries, contributed to the media framing of the issue, although the facilitators were most successful in transferring their own frames to media frames. This study makes important contributions to the field as it looks beyond traditional relationships between quantitative measures of media attention and aid allocation. For governmental and nongovernmental organizations in the area of humanitarian assistance, the findings of this study will assist them in media-relations in the future.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.7
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• pp.671-689
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• 2008

The economic recession of North Korea has been prolonged, the need for humanitarian assistance for the women and children of DPRK has been raised. In March 2006, South Korean government signed MOU with World Health Organization (WHO) to financially support "Improving Women's and Children's Health in DPRK (IWCH)" project. The assistance projects through UNICEF and the non-government organizations of South Korea were also followed. IWCH project consists of three parts; nutrition, disease management, children and maternity care. The first term (2006-2007) of the project leading by WHO was finished, and the second term (2008-2010) is just begun. The projects driven by NGOs have relatively been delayed due to difficulties in negotiating on project contents and places with North Korea. Recently, however, re-modeling processes of an obstetric/gynecology hospital and a children hospital in Nampo were started. Up to recently, South Korean government has played only a limited role in the humanitarian assistance for North Korea. IWCH project is, however, a full-scale initiative driven by government based on a systematic review of need and priorities. A significant amount of budget and relatively long term (five year) project compare to the previous short term and small size programs were expected to make more meaningful achievement. Despite these positive aspects, the project remains a list of unsolved problems a lack of mutual trust, a different decision making process between South and North Korea, a lack of conflict management process, and unpredictability and complexity of international politics. In spite of such kind of political uncertainty, the health care sector will be a leading area in the process of improving relationship between South and North Korea, particularly, humanitarian assistance for women and children will play a crucial role in the process. The successful implementation of IWCH project, therefore, will contribute to provide the reference model in developing the mutually constructive relationship between South and North

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.192-199
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• 2015

Under the economic banner of "self-reliance," North Korea has focused on hydro and thermal power as its main energy supply sources. However, in the face of extreme energy penury caused by machinery and material supply instability in the wake of the collapse of the former communist block as well as equipment aging and deterioration due to floods and other disasters, North Korea and international aid organizations are increasingly turning their attention toward energy source diversification. In particular, renewable energy is recognized as the best strategic energy source for North Korea and it is a decentralized energy option that is suitable in light of North Korea's power distribution networks and its pursuit of self-reliance. Biogas can contribute to improving the human rights situation of North Koreans in conjunction with an increase in food production. For this reason, renewable energy is the most promising option for an energy source that is likely to secure humanitarian aid from international organizations such as the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP). However, the implementation of such humanitarian aid has been hampered by rising concerns about the diversion of provided energy materials for military purposes and the disguised introduction of dual use items strategic materials as well as UN Security Council resolutions and sanctions of the international community against North Korea's military provocation, including nuclear tests and missile launches. This paper explores the possibility of solving this dilemma and proceeding with the humanitarian aid to North Korea by evaluating the potential for sanction and the risk of diversion of the possible products for biogas-related aid on the basis of the list of UN-sanctioned items.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.138-144
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• 2018

Disaster relief goods are those that help disaster victims to carry on ordinary life in a disaster. Along with the improvement of national economic level and raise of people's standard of living and diversified lifestyles, demands for relief goods in a disaster are also being diversified. In step with frequent and rather large-scale occurrence of disasters, diversity of related goods for disaster relief is likely to be needed ever more in the future, while more assistance to disaster victims is required from the aspect of securing their normal daily lives. To this end, the study conducted comparative analysis of how Korea, the US and Japan managed disaster relief goods and also examined, analyzed the opinions regarding the betterment of relief goods among disaster victims and ordinary people and civil servants in charge. Based on this, the study suggested the improvement draft for disaster relief goods, the point of which was to minimize disaster relief goods commonly prepared by the central government with goods that may assist victims' lives in shelters, while local governments may prepare relief goods appropriately according to actual situation.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.9 no.9
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• pp.131-141
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• 2022

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), whether international (INGOs) or local (NGOs), are the primary engines of humanitarian assistance in almost all national economies. Food security and these organizations are inextricably linked. They include a wide range of activities that need shared management or ventures to ensure food security in the Gaza Strip. Between December 2021 and January 2022, the survey was delivered online using Google forms. The target demographic for the research was those who worked for NGOs, whether it is local or international, in the Gaza Strip in the field of food security. Furthermore, 250 employees (N = 250) were used for this research. Women's contributions to these organizations' innovation in the Gaza Strip are highlighted in this research, which has crucial ramifications for policymakers and leaders. As a first step, NGOs should encourage more female leaders to enter this organization to boost female roles in this field. Leaders in Gaza Strip could also help promote the innovative management of top female leaders. Hence, these firms should offer training programs to assist women in their advancement in innovation.

• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.43-54
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• 2018

In recent years, international cooperation has become important not only at the humanitarian level but also at the socio-economic level. As a result, major foreign countries are increasing capital-intensive international cooperation. In this environment, Korea needs to look for differentiated international cooperation plans centered on sustainable talent cultivation and move away from capital-based international cooperation. In this study, we analyzed the case of HRD (Human Resource Development) center in Cambodia as an international cooperation model between industry-academia-college for training software (SW) workforce. The HRD Center in Cambodia is an educational institution that fosters SW talent and can be viewed as an international cooperation model that can influence the ICT industry in Cambodia as an educational platform. In fact, 190 people who have been hired so far have entered various fields. 97% of graduates have been satisfied with HRD center and 90% of them are willing to recommend the center. In particular, as highlighted in the case study, the HRD Center has had a positive effect on not only cultivating self-initiated learning-based SW talent, but also formulating positive image of Korea and Korean companies thereby facilitating entry into the global market. The HRD Center in Cambodia has developed a virtuous cycle of fostering human resources, providing education, advancing industry and building a cooperative network. Korea has transformed into a platform for international cooperation and human resource development and education by providing active support and aid. This case study will be utilized as a new model of international cooperation with SW expert training platform for Korea.

• Convergence Security Journal
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.117-126
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• 2019

Historically, the United Nations supported the establishment of the government of the Republic of Korea after liberation and played a decisive role in defending liberal democracy and peace by sending peacekeepers during the Korean War. With the political and military support of the United Nations, the Republic of Korea was able to grow into the world's 10th largest economy today, and now it is time to fulfill its responsibilities and roles to contribute to peace and prosperity in the international community as a middle power. The international peace operations of the United Nations are comprehensive concepts encompassing conflict prevention, peacemaking, peace enforcement, peacekeeping, and peace building, and are implemented in accordance with the Security Council resolutions based on the UN Charter. In order to effectively respond to changes in the international security environment and conflict factors after the post-Cold War, the UN promoted a paradigm shift in international peace operations through the 2000 Brahim Report and the 2015 High-Level Panel Report on UN Peace Activities. Therefore, this study aims to assess the Korean military's international peace operations at a limited level, such as reconstruction assistance and humanitarian assistance, and to present development measures for more active participation as a middle power in the future. To this end, we reviewed the history and specificities of conflict, the conflicting factors after the post-Cold War, and the new paradigm of UN peace operations, focusing on the African region where a number of UN peacekeeping missions are stationed. And it also suggested ways to develop international peace operations that the Korean military should pursue in the future.