UN Environment has been engaging with both nations on the Korean peninsula and has offered its support on environmental matters. A UN Environment delegation visited Pyongyang in June and held discussions on environmental matters. Further to this visit, the Foreign Minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea invited me to visit the country.
In close consultation with the Republic of Korea, I accepted the invitation and travelled to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea from 22 to 25 August.
While there, I held talks with the Minister of Environment and Foreign Affairs on Inter-Korean environmental cooperation, met with the Vice President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, and called on the embassies of key donor countries.
The visit also included a field visit to forestry sites and a marine environment area to understand conservation, disaster prevention and pollution control challenges.
The mission also further engaged Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in Multilateral Environmental Agreements, including the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol and the Minamata Convention on Mercury, as well as other international environmental initiatives.
