STI Policy Review_Vol. 7, No. 1 Science and Technology of North Korea: Its Strengths and Potential Areas for North-South Cooperation Jongweon Pak* & John G. Lee** Abstract This study examines the technical level of North Korea’s S&T and identifies areas for potential North–South cooperation. First, North Korean media is analyzed for situations and trends from 2010 to 2015. Despite some commendable achievements, North Korean S&T remains lacking in basic science and commercializa- tion potential. Despite an awareness of the importance of international cooperation, North Korea is ham- pered by international sanctions and their own caution, consequently concentrating their efforts on China. Details of their cooperation reflect their interests and needs to a certain extent, although their collaborations were mainly in the form of meetings and conferences rather than active joint research. To assess the poten- tial areas of cooperation with South Korea, this study also draws on interviews with NGOs and professionals working with North Korea. The country’s present situation is analyzed and some practical examples of pos- sible cooperation is suggested. North Korea has the potential to expand its cooperation not only with South Korea but with many other countries. North Korea also promisingly expresses interest in cooperation. Keywords Science & Technology (S&T), cooperation, North Korea, NGO * Professor, School of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Yanbian University of Science and Technology, Yanji, Jilin, China, yustpjw@ hanmail.net ** Board member, Yong Sung Technical Institute, Yanji, Jilin, China,
[email protected] 110 1. INTRODUCTION Despite having maintained its foundational Juche1 (“self-reliance”) ideology, North Korea has realized economic problems cannot be solved without international cooperation, and conceptual- ized Juche accordingly.