According to most criteria, North Korea would be classified as a failing state. More often than not the country’s destiny has been predicted as collapse, chaos, and in the end, absorption by South Korea. However, so far the Kim Jong-il regime proved viable and cultivated the art to survive within a globalizing world without opening up. More recently, North Korean authorities appeared to revive ...

The present nuclear leakage crisis from Japan is a topic to be discussed in present public health. In radiology, the leaked radioactive elements are considered hazard. Here, the author briefly reviews and discusses on two important radio-hazard elements in post nuclear power plant crisis, radioactive iodine and radioactive cesium. Based on previous similar nuclear crisis in Russia, it ...

OBJECTIVE This study aims to provide the information of the stigmas of mental illness such as psychosis, alcoholism, attempt suicide, and depression among North Korean defectors. METHODS We examined stigma for the mental illnesses of 639 North Korean defectors aged 19 to 65 years who live in the Settlement Support Center for North Korean Refugees. The stigmas of mental illnesses were assessed...

North Korean defectors who settle in South Korea have experienced severe food shortage and transition of food environment which could affect their health status. However, little is known about their anthropometric measurements and dietary intake after settlement in South Korea. The purpose of this study is to compare anthropometric measurements and dietary intake between North Korean young adul...

dear editor, the big public health concern in this year is the nuclear crisis in japan that causes contamination of nuclides around the world. the effect of the exposure to leaked nuclides from the present nuclear crisis on reproductive health is a topic to be concerned. in my previous publication (1), the evidence on the relationship between nuclear exposure and infertility can be confirmed. h...