김정은 시기 지방발전을 위한 경제림 확대 정책 연구

Abstract

In North Korea’s mountainous terrain, economic activities that use these mountains for profit are essential. In order to gain economic benefits from forests, it is necessary to select the right sites and clearly delineate their uses. In North Korea, mountain areas are categorized to create, protect, and utilize forests. Most forests and forest products are owned by the state, but some can be created and used by cities and counties, which are called economic forests. Since the 1960s, economic forests have served as raw material bases for light industry to produce everyday products for the population, but they have gradually shrunk due to the country’s declining economy and lack of forestry capacity. Since the Kim Jong-un regime launched the second phase of the forest restoration campaign, it has emphasized the creation of forests that are beneficial to local people’s livelihoods, and economic forests are beginning to be revitalized. In addition, regional balance is being promoted by revitalizing local industries in each province. Economic forests serve as raw material bases for light industry factories. Kimhwa County has become a new model for local development as it has successfully rebuilt light industry factories and created economic forests in flooded areas. The Kim Jong Un regime, which seeks to promote a balanced development of the city and the county, is utilizing economic forests as one of the means of regional development.