Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 02/2011

Toxic Legacy: Hunger, Oppression, Migration, and Health in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Leonard S. Rubenstein

January 2011

United States Institute of Peace

Abstract

The impact of economic collapse in the Democratic Republic of North Korea during the 1990s continues to devastate the health and lives of people in North Korea. This Peace Brief explores the current health status of North Korea, initiatives to strengthen the health system, the potential impact of migration and informal markets on health, and prospects for the future health of the population.