Activity
Education of NGO officials on the promotion of the Inter-Korean Green Detente

From July 13th to July 15th, an education program for NGO officials, regarding the promotion of the Inter-Korean Green Detente, hosted by the Ministry of Unification, was held at Gwanghwamun Center Point. The training session intended to provide insights for officials who were interested in promoting the Inter-Korean Green Detente. There was a particular focus on the effects of the climate crisis in North Korea. This helped the officials to understand the aim of the ongoing forest cooperation between the two Koreas and discuss future cooperation. David Straub and Choi Eun-jung, intern researchers at the Hanns Seidel Foundation Korea, also participated in the education program to make sense of the importance of the Inter-Korean forest cooperation and the impact of the climate crisis on the Korean Peninsula.

On the first two days of the program, lectures were held at the Center Point Building in Gwanghwamun. On the third day, the officials had the unique opportunity to  visit the Paju Inter-Korean Forest Cooperation Center. At the center, the participants were introduced to the functions of the Inter-Korean forest cooperation. Furthermore, the officials were able to tour the entire facility. In the first session, the current status of the Inter-Korean cooperation was presented, with an emphasis on the future direction of the Inter-Korean cooperation for the Green Detente, North Korea's recognition and response to the climate crisis, and the obligations that come from being a signatory of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, designed to facilitate carbon neutrality. At the Paju Forest Cooperation Center, visitors also have the opportunity to learn about the current status of forests in North Korea. Moreover, visitors can learn about the accomplishments of former cooperations and tour the facility’s nursery of trees.