Inter-Korean Health Care and Medicine Cooperation for Joint Response to Infectious Diseases

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the current status and problems of the North Korea s infectious disease response system during the Kim Jong-un era and to seek inter-Korean cooperation tasks in the health care and medicine field for joint response to infectious diseases. As can be seen from COVID-19, there are no borders on infectious diseases. Although the military demarcation line is blocked between the two Koreas, the dangers of moving large-scale areas of infectious diseases are increasing day by day. Accordingly, the necessity of inter-Korean cooperation in the field of health care and medicine for joint response to infectious diseases is raised. The existence of simultaneous threats between North and South Korea due to the COVID-19 incident can be a chance to change the paradigm of inter-Korean exchange and cooperation. This study proposes the following as a task of inter-Korean health care and medicine cooperation for joint response to infectious diseases. First, systematizing inter-Korean cooperation in health care and medicine and preparing detailed standards, second, signing inter-Korean health and medical agreements, third, establishing a response scenario for each infectious disease, fourth, establishing a dedicated organization for infectious diseases and fostering professional manpower, and fifth, considering the sanctions against North Korea And establishing a cooperation and support system.