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
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Xiamen Ministerial Declaration 2024
The Xiamen Ministerial Declaration, adopted by PEMSEA country partners in November 2024, strengthens regional commitments for sustainable ocean governance in East Asian Seas. The declaration emphasizes 10 synergistic actions across effective governance, ocean health, blue economy, and food security, while advancing the SDS-SEA Implementation Plan 2023-2027 and PEMSEA 2030 Roadmap through collaborative partnerships.
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PEMSEA eBulletin - November 2024
Dear PEMSEA community,
That’s a wrap for East Asian Seas Congress (EASC) 2024!
As we close the successful EASC 2024 held in Xiamen, China, we look back at inspiring discussions, collaborations, and groundbreaking initiatives that helped achieve our collective commitment to a sustainable and resilient future!
This month, we extend a heartfelt thank you to all those who made EASC 2024 a success. Check out the key takeaways from the Xiamen Ministerial Declaration, discover how the EASC Exhibition celebrated 30 years of regional cooperation, and revisit the many highlights of this landmark event.
A Heartfelt Thank You!
To all delegates, convenors, sponsors, exhibitors, speakers, and ocean leaders, we extend our deepest gratitude for your exceptional contributions to the success of the EASC 2024!
This year’s Congress brought together 855 participants from 20 countries, a potent pool of ideas and experiences. From 171 speakers leading 35 sessions, the creativity and enthusiasm of our 50 exhibitors, and the support of our nine sponsors, every milestone of the Congress was filled with collaboration, learning and the essence of partnerships.
We explored important themes through our plenary sessions, including:
- Ocean Innovations and Financing
- Ocean Science, Policy, and Practice
- Global Challenges, Local Solutions
Parallel sessions took a closer look into selected topics like climate action, biodiversity and sustainable development, while our exhibits showcased cutting-edge solutions and technologies for ocean sustainability.
With representation from 20 countries, 88 IGOs and NGOs, 42 local host institutions, 47 academic institutions, 22 local governments, 6 donor agencies and foundations, 15 business organizations, and over 200 youth participating as speakers, delegates, and dedicated volunteers, the Congress truly reflected a “whole of society” approach.
Your contributions and engagement made this Congress a celebration of “Blue Synergy for a Shared Future: One Sustainable and Resilient Ocean.” Together, we tackled the big questions, shared ideas and built lasting partnerships to protect our coastal communities and our shared ocean.
See you at the 9th EAS Congress in 2027!
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The Guidebook on the State of the River Basin (SORB) Reporting System
The Guidebook on the State of the River Basin (SORB) Reporting System is intended for local governments and/or river basinorganizations in the East Asian Seas region currently or planning to implement integrated river basin management (IRBM)/integratedwater resources management (IWRM) programs. It provides guidance in establishing a regular monitoring, evaluation (M&E) and reporting mechanism, and discusses the requirements, the basis and importance of implementing and sustaining the SORB reporting system.