Who Adjusts to North Korea? : The Politics of Humanitarian Aid = 국제 대북인도적 지원기관의 적응성에 관한 연구

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

For both international organizations and non-governmental organizations, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (“DPRK” or “North Korea”) presents a unique operating environment on account of a wide range of circumstances, such as strict limitations placed on the movement and access of foreigners, international sanctions regime, and incomplete integration with the global economy. As a result, access and delivering humanitarian aid to North Korea comes with significant challenges.

This research aims to build on a hitherto limited, but important, body of literature focused on identifying factors that are relevant for the access of organizations working in North Korea. It employs an expert survey, in-depth interviews, and the experience of the author, who has seven years of experience related to North Korea. Previous research is partly validated but also extended and 34 factors that are identified as relevant for access of organizations to North Korea are recategorized into organizational, social and economic factors.

The findings confirm that social factors are of primary importance for organizations working in North Korea, while economic factors are of secondary, and organizational factors of tertiary importance. The results of the expert survey that allow a quantification of the relevance of organizational, social and economic factors of primary, secondary and tertiary importance are a practical guideline for organizations that intend to start, or already established operations in North Korea.

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

For both international organizations and non-governmental organizations, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (“DPRK” or “North Korea”) presents a unique operating environment on account of a wide range of circumstances, such as strict limitations placed on the movement and access of foreigners, international sanctions regime, and incomplete integration with the global economy. As a result, access and delivering humanitarian aid to North Korea comes with significant challenges.

This research aims to build on a hitherto limited, but important, body of literature focused on identifying factors that are relevant for the access of organizations working in North Korea. It employs an expert survey, in-depth interviews, and the experience of the author, who has seven years of experience related to North Korea. Previous research is partly validated but also extended and 34 factors that are identified as relevant for access of organizations to North Korea are recategorized into organizational, social and economic factors.

The findings confirm that social factors are of primary importance for organizations working in North Korea, while economic factors are of secondary, and organizational factors of tertiary importance. The results of the expert survey that allow a quantification of the relevance of organizational, social and economic factors of primary, secondary and tertiary importance are a practical guideline for organizations that intend to start, or already established operations in North Korea.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• Chapter 1 Introduction 6
• Chapter 2 Literature Review 9
• 2.1. The Nature of IOs and NGOs in North Korea 9
• 2.2. North Korea - A Special Context 13
• Chapter 3 Research Plan & Methodology 25
• 3.1. Dependent and Independent Variables 25
• 3.2. Methodology 26
• 3.3. Categorization of Organizational, Social, and Economic Factors 27
• Chapter 4 Results & Discussion 31
• 4.1. Organizational Factors 34
• 4.2. Social Factors 37
• 4.3. Economic Factors 38
• 4.4. A Data-Driven Analysis of Factors
• Chapter 5 Conclusion 53
• References 55
• Appendix 61