DPR Korea
Capital:
Pyongyang
Land Area:
120,408km²
Inland Water Area:
130km²
Length of Coastline:
2,495km
The history of ICM in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) can be traced back to 1993 when the country joined the first phase of PEMSEA’s GEF-funded project. When the second phase started in 1999, the DPR Korea designated Nampho as an ICM demonstration site along with 6 other sites in the region. The designation of Nampho as one of PEMSEA's national ICM demonstration sites was one of the driving forces for development of ICM policy in the country. The Nampho ICM demonstration project which includes activities such as: the development of the Nampho Coastal Strategy; establishment of the Integrated Information Management System (IIMS) and the Integrated Environmental Monitoring Program (IEMP); start up of the Coastal Management Division and ICM Training Center; improvement of the potable water supply system in Nampho; and decreasing pollution in Nampho's coastal area. The success of the Nampho ICM demonstration project proved that scaling up ICM across the entire country would be beneficial to the people’s welfare and livelihood, as well as the environment. It led DPRK to become a signatory to the Putrajaya declaration, which endorsed the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA), and the Haikou Partnership Agreement which established PEMSEA as a regional coordinating mechanism for SDS-SEA implementation.
Recently, efforts to scale up ICM nationally have been initiated by the government. Following the model case of Nampho and guided by the National ICM Programme, Wonsan—the largest city in the East Sea area of DPR Korea—was designated as an ICM site in 2015. Aside from the two ICM sites, plans to scale up ICM in DPR Korea will include establishing a National ICM Coordinating Committee at the central level to ensure the efficient and effective implementation of programs at the national and local levels. The Committee will approve all the ICM-related work in DPR Korea including work plans, budgets andproject outputs. The government is also developing a management program for the Taedong River Basin. The Taedong River is the fifth longest river in DPRK, approximately 450km, and its watershed area covers over 20,000km2, including Pyongyang, the capital. The government has already prepared a profile of the Taedong River and formulated the draft management framework plan.
Focal Points:
Mr. Kwang-Jin Jong (National Focal Point)
Deputy Director-General, General Bureau for Cooperation with International Organizations (GBCIO)
c/o Dr. Won-Tae Shin
Regional Project Manager ODA/MOF, PRF
General Bureau for Cooperation with International Organizations (GBCIO)
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Proceedings of the Thirty Third East Asian Seas Executive Committee Meeting
The East Asian Seas (EAS) Executive Committee convened its 33rd Meeting on 28 April 2025 in Busan, Republic of Korea. The meeting gathered key leaders of the EAS Partnership Council, including Chair Dr. Vann Monyneath, Co-Chair Atty. Jonas Leones, Intergovernmental Session Co-Chair Mr. Le Dai Thang, Technical Session Chair Dr. Keita Furukawa, and Technical Session Co-Chair Dr. Suk-Jae Kwon. The PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) Secretariat, led by Executive Director Ms. Aimee T. Gonzales, provided secretariat support, alongside other PRF staff. Observers included representatives from the Arafura Timor Seas program, Korea Maritime Institute, China’s Ministry of Natural Resources, and the China PEMSEA Center, with additional PRF personnel joining online.
The meeting agenda featured key updates and strategic discussions on the outcomes and next steps following the East Asian Seas Congress 2024, the alignment of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) with 2030 targets, and PRF’s accomplishments in 2024 and work plan for 2025. Other agenda items included preparations for the 17th EAS Partnership Council Meeting, the engagement of Non-Country Partners, progress on the Blue Carbon Program, presentation of the 2024 audited financial report, and governance matters such as the election of new officers and the selection process for the next PRF Executive Director.
PEMSEA Annual Report 2024: A Year of Collaboration: Driving Blue Synergies Towards Resilient Coasts and Ocean in the East Asian Seas Region
2024 was a landmark year for PEMSEA with the successful organization of the EAS Congress 2024 and the 8th Ministerial Forum as key highlights. These milestone events led to stronger and renewed commitments to drive synergistic actions towards sustainable, inclusive and resilient coasts, ocean and communities, aligned with national priorities and global and regional targets.
Check out progress and plans of PEMSEA's projects that address complex interconnected environmental challenges in the region: marine plastic pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change through rigorous baseline data collation, analysis and reporting; enhancing governance and investment plans and programs; knowledge management and technical skills and capacity development.
PEMSEA eBulletin - April 2025
Dear PEMSEA community,
April is packed with exciting progress and developments across the region!
PEMSEA is making waves at the 10th Our Ocean Conference in Busan by organizing a side event that brought together regional partners committed to support governments in meeting their 30x30 conservation targets while enhancing protection of our valuable marine ecosystems.
Looking toward the future, PEMSEA's Executive Committee (EC) Meeting in Busan endorsed plans to extend our Sustainable Development Strategy implementation to 2030. The EC also noted progress on our regional Blue Carbon Program and finalized the timeline for upcoming Partnership Council elections.
We're also proud to announce the release of "Threads of Resilience," the sixth edition of our Integrated River Basin Management Project newsletter. This issue tells inspiring narratives of women from the Sasmuan Pampanga Coastal Wetlands alongside the impactful work of female environmental leaders driving change across Southeast Asia and critical conservation needs for key project sites, including Indonesia's Ciliwung River.
Other important developments include the PNLG Executive Committee's announcement of upcoming elections and General Assembly in Jakarta, the successful launch of the GEF/UNDP/ASEAN Integrated River Basin Management Project in Viet Nam, and regional training initiatives to enhance blue carbon knowledge and integrated coastal management strategies in Xiamen, China.