DPRK Business and Scientific Collaboration
Key Points:
- International Collaboration: An innovative partnership between Western and North Korean scientists, focusing on vulcanological studies of Mount Paektu, a volcano on the border of North Korea and China.
- Significance of Paektu: The last eruption (1000 years ago), second-largest in recorded history, surpassed only by Mount Tambora (1815). Potential impacts could be devastating due to its proximity to densely populated areas.
- Monitoring Efforts: Western researchers were invited to North Korea in 2011 to install seismometers, enhancing the monitoring capabilities for detecting ground deformations, increased gas emissions, and seismic activity around the volcano.
- Findings: The results indicate extensive magma beneath the volcano, forming a 'mushy' mixture of molten rock and crystals extending 35km deep into the Earth's crust. This knowledge is crucial for predicting future volcanic activities.
- Collaborative Goals: The partnership aims to continue for the next 12 months and potentially extend further into the next 5-10 years, focusing on understanding the dynamics of the magma, its quantity, and implications for volcanic eruptions.
Political and Economic Context:
- EU Sanctions: The EU sanctioned North Korea's state-run insurance company, citing its contribution to the country's nuclear, missile, and WMD programs, aligning with UN sanctions.
- NK-Hong Kong Trade Decline: Trade between North Korea and Hong Kong showed a steady decline, reaching $6.5 million in 2015, down significantly from $63.1 million in 2012, largely due to decreased tobacco imports and precious metal exports.
- DPRK-Angola Relations: North Korea is sending over 30 doctors to Angola, strengthening ties in sectors like health, energy, water, telecommunications, and agriculture, following the opening of a new medical center in Tanzania.
- LNKM Organization: A Christian-based US non-profit dedicated to improving North Koreans' daily lives through clean-water and green energy projects, collaborating with local NGOs.
Summary:
The report highlights significant international collaborations in scientific research and economic engagements, particularly in the context of North Korea's scientific advancements, economic challenges, and diplomatic relations. The focus on Mount Paektu's monitoring and North Korea's trade patterns, along with the introduction of a new medical center and healthcare partnerships, showcase evolving dynamics in North Korea's interactions with the international community.