• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.483-490
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• 2020

This study aims to construct an ecological community and lay the foundation for sustainable development in the Korean Peninsula by promoting cooperation between the South and North Korea in the non-political and no-military natural environment sector under the rapidly changing inter-Korean relations. It analyzed South Korea's aid and international cooperation projects in natural environmental sectors in North Korea and examined North Korea's national plan and the cooperation projects that North Korea proposed to the international community to identify potential cooperation projects. It selected 15 potential cooperation projects and 6 crucial factors to be considered in prioritizing the projects through case studies and the first expert survey (five persons). The six crucial factors were i) urgency, ⅱ) linkage between North and South Korea (ecological community in the Korean Peninsula), ⅲ) contribution to sustainable development (prosperity), i) North Korea's acceptability, ⅴ) cooperation conditions and budget, and ⅵ) project sustainability. The second expert survey (14 persons) focused on prioritizing the 15 potential inter-Korean cooperation projects in line with six crucial factors. The 15 potential inter-Korean cooperation projects in the natural environment were comprehensively reviewed and scored based on the six crucial factors. The resulting priority projects were identified as follow: i) Mt. Seorak - Mt. Keumgang International Peace Park, ⅱ) support and cooperation for agro-forestry, ⅲ) joint conservation projects for internationally important migratory birds (such as Black-faced Spoonbills and Cranes), iv) inter-Korean ecotourism linkage and promotion, and ⅴ) establishment of integrated information system on leading ecosystems and biodiversity in the Korean Peninsula. The priority cooperation projects presented in this study are based on the perception of experts engaged in inter-Korean natural environmental cooperation in consideration of existing cooperation cases and conditions. For the actual implementation of these potential projects, a systematic approach, including the formation of consensus between North and South Koreas and the creation of a cooperative network with suitable partners suitable for each project's characteristics, would be needed.