자연재해 대응 관련 북한의 정책과 법･조직체계

Abstract

The organizations tasked with responding to natural disasters in North Korea include the Bureau of Hydro-Meteorology (BHM), the Ministry of Land and Environment Protection (MLEP), the Flood Damage Rehabilitation Committee (FDRC), and the Seismological Bureau. Relevant laws include the “Meteorology Act,” the “Environmental Protection Act,” and the “Seismic and Earthquake Damage Prevention and Rescue Act.” Between liberation to the year 1977, in which the “Land Act” was passed, North Korea approached various environmental issues with an eye toward postwar reconstruction. It was only after the enactment of the Environmental Protection Act in 1986 and the founding of the National Committee on Environmental Protection in 1993 that North Korea began to respond systematically to environmental problems. In addition to safeguarding the life and property of the North Korean populace, Pyongyang also implements policies related to natural disasters for the purpose of regime maintenance. At present, the lack of appropriate data and resources pose significant limits to understanding natural disaster-related organizations and policies in North Korea. This paper nonetheless contributes to the literature by examining North Korea’s policies and organizations related to natural disasters and the environment on the basis of various primary sources.