Red Cross Society of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Region served | Democratic People's Republic of Korea |
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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 |
Affiliations | International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies |
Volunteers | 3,300 |
Website | www |
Red Cross Society of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea | |
Chosŏn'gŭl | |
---|---|
Hancha | |
Revised Romanization | Joseon Minjujuui Inmin Gonghwagung Jeoksipjahoe |
McCune–Reischauer | Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk Chŏksipcha Hoe |
The Red Cross Society of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK RCS;
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.
The DPRK RCS is active in flood relief work as
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.[5] By 1950 it had become a nation-wide organization.[6] It was admitted into the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on 11 May 1956.[7] 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,[8] which it only joined in 1991.[9] One of the original tasks for the society was prevention of once prevalent infectious diseases such as tuberculosis.[6]
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.[6]
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 of both entities were held multiple times in late in the year.[10] The two societies met about 30 times in the ensuing year, reaching a preliminary agreement.[11] Then in 1973 progress stalled.[12]
The
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.[7]
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.[6]
Activities
Administratively DPRK RCS, has central, provincial, city and county level committees.
The DPRK RCS is often active in the flood relief work, as
As of July 2013[update], 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]
Additionally, it operates the Pyongyang Red Cross Hospital[16] which is considered amongst the best in the DPRK.
See also
- International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
- June 15th North–South Joint Declaration
- List of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
- Republic of Korea National Red Cross
- Seoul–Pyongyang hotline
References and sources
- ^ a b c d e "Korea, Democratic People's Republic". International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
- ^ a b c "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.
- ^ "geonames – International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies". Geonames. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
- ^ a b Report of the DPRK Association for Human Rights Studies 2014, p. 48.
- ^ ISSN 1727-9208.
- ^ a b c d e 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.
- ^ a b c "Noble mission of red cross organization". Voice of Korea. Archived from the original on 18 April 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ISBN 978-0-7425-7938-5.
- ISBN 978-1-5381-0971-7.
- ISBN 0-582-11971-5.
- ^ 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.
- ISBN 0-582-50115-6.
- ^ Report of the DPRK Association for Human Rights Studies 2014, p. 41.
- ^ Report of the DPRK Association for Human Rights Studies 2014, p. 49.
- ^ "Red Cross calls for urgent North Korea aid as floods affect 600,000". ABC Australia. 3 October 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
- PMID 25827044.
Works cited
- "Report of the DPRK Association for Human Rights Studies" (PDF). Pyongyag: DPRK Association for Human Rights Studies. 13 September 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2014.
External links
- Korea Red Cross Foundation – a subordinate body of DPRK RCS
- Interview with General Secretary Ri Ho-rim at the Wayback Machine (archived 26 September 2016), Naenara