On September 12, North Korea established a special administrative
region in and around Sinuiju to develop it into an international hub of finance,
trade, industry, and tourism. On November, the North announced to set up a
special industrial zone in Kaesong City, and a special district for tourists in
an eastern coastal area including Mt. Kumgang. Prior to these announcements, the
North adopted a new economic management system, which increases wages and
commodity prices by more than 10 times from July 1, 2002.
North Korea's these radical changes seem to abrupt. However, many
experts on North Korean issues agree that it has prepared economic reforms since
late 1990s. It has paid attention to train and develop government officials for
the management of economy under the new economic system.
Human resource development is one of the most important factors for
successful implementation of agricultural development projects currently being
undertaken in North Korea. United Nations, such as UNDP, IFAD, FAO, and WFP have
provided development assistance to the North to increase agricultural production
since food crisis in mid-1990s. United Nations has focussed its assistance on
promoting an enabling environment for sustainable human development.
The proportion of agricultural sector consists of over 30% of the total
labor power in North Korea. The agricultural sector holds apparently a lot of
professions, but the number of the experts having pragmatic knowledge is not so
much as regarded. North Korea has relatively good education, training, and
extension system. However, it is pointed out that improvement of educational
contents, equipment, and facilities is required for human resource development.
The number of agricultural labors is expected to be decreased as economic
development is expedited. Therefore agricultural mechanization and improvement
of the quality of the labors is necessary to complement the shortage of labor
power in agricultural sector. As resources are limited, the priority of human
development fields should be set in accordance with the goals of agricultural
policies. In the future, demand for human resources in horticulture, livestock,
food processing, and marketing fields will be increased. It is required to
provide trained experts and technicians for future demand in these fields.
We have confirmed that sustainable and strategic approach is necessary
to strengthen the cooperation between two Koreas. At the beginning stage, the
exchange of technical information such as literature and data is available. At
next stage, invitation of experts, mutual visit through professional meeting or
co-research can be expanded. Against the background, two Koreas can cooperate to
train agricultural technicians in the North.
Countries concerning in North Korea's agricultural human resource
development is very limited. However, international communities including the
United Nations recognize that training of human resources is required to pursue
the open system in North Korea. So we have to cooperate with international
communities to develop agricultural human resources in North Korea. The ultimate
goal is to increase agricultural production capacity to provide sufficient foods
by developing human resources through the cooperation between two Koreas.
Systematic strategies and programs have to be prepared for the target.