Red Cross Society of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

The Red Cross Society of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK RCS;[2] Korean: 조선민주주의인민공화국 적십자회; MR: Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk Chŏksipcha[3]) is the national Red Cross Society of North Korea. It was founded as the Red Cross Society of North Korea on 18 October 1946.[4]

Red Cross Society of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Flag of the Red Cross Society of the DPRK
AbbreviationDPRK RCS
Formation18 October 1946
TypeNGO
PurposeHumanitarian
HeadquartersPyongyang, North Korea
Location
Region served
 North Korea
Secretary General
Ri Ho-rim
President
Kang Su-rin
Vice chairman executive
Paek Yong-ho
Vice chairman
Kim Hyong-hun
Vice chairman
Ri Chung-bok
AffiliationsInternational Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Volunteers
3,300
Red Cross Society of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Chosŏn'gŭl
Hancha
Revised RomanizationJoseon Minjujuui Inmin Gonghwagung Jeoksipjahoe
McCune–ReischauerChosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk Chŏksipcha Hoe

It was admitted into the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on 11 May 1956. This admittance had a great symbolic importance, as the North Korean regime remained outside most international organizations for decades. However, the DPRK RCS has been called "a misleadingly named state agency" by The Chosun Ilbo.[5]

The DPRK RCS is active in flood relief work as flooding is a prominent humanitarian problem in North Korea. Issues related to water supply, damage to the infrastructure, landslides, a need for food aid, homelessness and waterborne diseases are also other humanitarian problems faced by the DPRK RCS.

The society has participated in family reunions of Korean families separated by the Korean War and in repatriation of Japanese Koreans. Other humanitarian and relief activities abroad have targeted China, India, Iran, the former Soviet Union, Argentina, Jamaica, Egypt, Benin, and Somalia.

History

The society was founded as the "Red Cross Society of North Korea" on 18 October 1946. It was renamed "Red Cross Society of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" in December 1948,[4] by Decision No. 101 of the Cabinet of North Korea.[6] By 1950 it had become a nation-wide organization.[7] It was admitted into the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on 11 May 1956.[8] This admittance had a great symbolic importance for North Korea, as the regime had been isolated from almost all of international organizations such as the United Nations,[9] which it only joined in 1991.[10] One of the original tasks for the society was prevention of once prevalent infectious diseases such as tuberculosis.[7]

The DPRK RCS held a prominent role in aftermath of the Korean War. The society provided the people with food, clothing, bedding and medical services at provincial hospitals, and first aid posts.[7]

In 1971 Koreans from both sides officially met and shook hands for the first time, during the delivery of a letter from the North Korean Red Cross Society accepting a proposal from the South Korean National Red Cross for joint investigation of the problems of families separated by the division of the peninsula. Preliminary meetings between delegations delegations of both entities were held multiple times in late in the year.[11] The two societies met about 30 times in the ensuing year, reaching a preliminary agreement.[12] Then in 1973 progress stalled.[13]

The Law on the Red Cross Society of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea further defines its role,[6] and was adopted by Decree 2113 of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly on 10 January 2007.[14]

The DPRK RCS was involved in repatriating Japanese Koreans in 1959 and in returning "unconverted long-term prisoners", North Korean loyalist prisoners in South Korea, in 1993 and 2000. The DPRK RCS has also worked on family reunions for families separated by the Korean War.[8]

In 2016 the society celebrated its 70th anniversary, and foreign partners from the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement visited Sinyang County to learn about programs to improve food production and increase local awareness on natural disasters.[7]

Activities

Administratively DPRK RCS, has central, provincial, city and county level committees.[15] Its secretary general is Ri Ho-rim, president Kang Su-rin, vice chairman executive Paek Yong-ho, and vice chairmen Kim Hyong-hun and Ri Chung-bok.[1] The organization is based in the Central District of Pyongyang.[1] The conservative South Korean newspaper The Chosun Ilbo has called it "a misleadingly named state agency".[5]

The DPRK RCS is often active in the flood relief work, as flooding in North Korea remains a major humanitarian concern. Other major humanitarian problems related to the flooding, and faced by the IFRC, are damage to the water supply in both urban and rural communities, damage to the infrastructure, landslides, a need for the food aid, homelessness and waterborne diseases.[1][7] As of 2016, deforestation remains a major contributing cause for natural disasters.[16] The DPRK RCS also sent aid to South Korea after record flooding there in August and early September 1984. The society's other humanitarian and relief activities abroad have targeted China, Japan, India, Iran, the former Soviet Union, Argentina, Jamaica, Egypt, Benin, and Somalia.[8]

As of July 2013, there were 3,300 Red Cross volunteers in the North Korea.[1]

In 2013, its programs reached 8.89 million North Koreans.[2] Healthcare programs focusing on women and children have been implemented in 56 cities.[2]

See also

References and sources
  1. "Korea, Democratic People's Republic". International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  2. "Democratic People's Republic of Korea: Annual Report 2012" (PDF). International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. 30 April 2013. p. 1. MAAKP002.
  3. "geonames – International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies". Geonames. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  4. Report of the DPRK Association for Human Rights Studies 2014, p. 48.
  5. "N.Korean Restaurant Staff 'Tricked into Defection'". The Chosun Ilbo. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  6. Kim Kum-jin (May 2014). "Humanitarian Activities: Red Cross Society of the DPRK". Democratic People's Republic of Korea. No. 701. pp. 38–39. ISSN 1727-9208.
  7. Fuller, Patrick (31 October 2016). "International partners pay tribute to DPRK Red Cross on its 70th anniversary". International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  8. "Noble mission of red cross organization". Voice of Korea. Archived from the original on 18 April 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  9. Tessa Morris-Suzuki (2007). Exodus to North Korea: Shadows from Japan's Cold War. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 102. ISBN 978-0-7425-7938-5.
  10. Fomerand, Jacques (2017). "Korea (Democratic People's Republic of)". Historical Dictionary of the United Nations (2nd ed.). Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 336. ISBN 978-1-5381-0971-7.
  11. William E. Skillend (Chapter on Korea) (1972). Macadam, Ivison; Grindrod, Muriel; Boas, Ann (eds.). The Annual Register of World Events 1971. 213. Great Britain: Longmans, Green and Co Ltd. p. 309. ISBN 0 582 11971 5.
  12. William E. Skillend (Chapter on Korea) (1973). Macadam, Ivison; Grindrod, Muriel; Boas, Ann (eds.). The Annual Register of World Events 1972. 214. Great Britain: Longmans, Green and Co Ltd. pp. 273, 317.
  13. William E. Skillend (Chapter on Korea) (1974). Hodson, H. V.; Hoffman, Verena (eds.). The Annual Register of World Events 1973. 215. Great Britain: Longmans, Green and Co Ltd. p. 327. ISBN 0 582 501156.
  14. Report of the DPRK Association for Human Rights Studies 2014, p. 41.
  15. Report of the DPRK Association for Human Rights Studies 2014, p. 49.
  16. "Red Cross calls for urgent North Korea aid as floods affect 600,000". ABC Australia. 3 October 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.

Works cited
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