On April 24, 2021, International Association of Youth and Students for Peace USA hosted an Online Youth Discussion with Dr. Seung-Ho Lee to celebrate International Mother Earth Day. Dr. Seung-Ho Lee spoke on the work he was doing in North Korea with reforestation and at the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) to support conservation of the unique biological and cultural resources in the area. He spoke at length of all the great work they can do by investing in this area, and what it could mean for the unification of North and South Korea.

Dr. Lee, who has a Ph.D. degree in Political Science and is an expert in environmental management, critical thinking in governance and education, and the U.S. federalism and international relations, began a reforestation project in North Korea because he saw the dire need for it, both for the environment and the people. Because of the severe deforestation on the mountains, flooding and landslides have negatively impacted many provinces in North Korea. Working with the North Korean government and the people, Dr. Lee shared how the project has been growing, with creative planting techniques being implemented and many tree nurseries being developed in the country. The success for reforesting the mountains are high as South Korea has already modeled the method and has seen flourishing results.

At the end of the presentation, the two moderators, Miilhan Stephens (IAYSP USA President) and Naria Gaarder (National Program Coordinator), followed up with some questions from the viewers, as well as some of their own. Dr. Seung-Ho Lee graciously and thoroughly answered any questions he was given, and everyone in attendance gained valuable insight and knowledge into the conservation of the DMZ area.

A lot was learned throughout this event about conserving the land running along the DMZ and the reforestation efforts in North Korea. Although Dr. Seung-ho Lee was not able to get to all the questions that came up in the chat, one of our moderators, Naria, took note of the ones that weren’t answered, and Dr. Lee took time after the event to answer them all in detail. Here are his responses:

Question 1. What was the reason behind why strict- authoritarian style of North Korea lead to a failure of reforestation project? (compared to South Korea)

Answer: The type of rule (democratic or authoritarian) is not a determining factor in making the reforestation efforts a success or a failure. Actually, both North and South Korean governments were authoritarian when they promoted reforestation in respective countries, although the North Korean government seems more authoritarian. If the preconditions such as alternative food and fuel resources are provided, the type of authoritarian rule might expedite the speed of the reforestation as shown by the case of South Korea. But when the preconditions such as food and fuel sources are not met, the type of authoritarian rule itself cannot make people work on reforestations in their local mountains as shown by the case of North Korea. As people are starving and in a life and death situation, the North Korean government cannot control its local people who are dependent upon mountain forests for their survival. For more details, please refer to the recent ICUS conference: https://vimeo.com/541022275/50a21f3b9d

Question 2. What're some roadblocks as to why people of the USA or other countries aren't willing to go/help/invest into North Korea?

Answer: The primary roadblock is the North Korean nuclear weapons program. The US considers the North Korea's nuclear weapons a primary security concern in Northeast Asia, whereas North Korea regards its nuclear weapons as a sole means to protect itself from any foreign aggression. It is obvious that North Korea will not use its nuclear weapons for preemptive attacks on any nearby countries. North Korea might use nuclear weapons in retaliation if they are being attacked by any foreign powers.The weapons are for their own survival. But the problem is that North Korea can attack South Korea under the flag of "liberation of Korean people from foreign imperialism." It is very likely that North Korea can use conventional weapons in attacking South Korea with a very limited nuclear threat or use. So the Korean DMZ should be turned into an international peace zone governed directly by the UN. In this way, the Korean DMZ can be a credible deterrent against North Korea's nuclear threat on the Korean peninsula. For this discussion, please review the following: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQkU2kBl1GU&ab_channel=CTCTV

Question 3. If North Korea considers themselves as inheritors of Choseon (?), does Japan help/support North Korea? If so, in what ways? Is it a mutual relationship?

Answer: North Korea considers itself as a legitimate inheritor of Chosun, as its official name includes Chosun (조선 민주주의 인민공화국). The late Chosun was demised by the Japanese colonial rule in 1905. North Koreans still have vivid memories of brutal Japanese imperialism. Most North Korean people fiercely fought for independence through military combat. The North Korean government proclaimed the total execution of collaborators with the Japanese colonial rule. If you want to know why Kim Il Sung's Juche ideology (self-reliance, autonomy, or independence) is well-received in most North Korean people, please refer to the following: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQkU2kBl1GU&ab_channel=CTCTV

Questions 4. Is Mt. Kungang one of the biodiversity Hotspots?

Answer: Yes, it is one of the most well-preserved mountains in Baekdudaegan that is a mountain range covering the entire Korean peninsula. The Korean people commonly call it a mountain of 12,000 peaks with four different names depending on the seasons. For more info, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N0fMpKUGqg&t=15s&ab_channel=CTCTV

Question 5. Would the people (North and South Koreans) who will work alongside one another be helping voluntarily or be paid? (how was the situation for the North Koreans who helped in reforestation?) Would this kind of project be open to international/global citizens?

Answer: I think North and South Koreans are willing to work voluntarily rather than being paid for the tree planting work. But the problem is that North and South Koreans in most situations are not open-minded among themselves. So we need to build trust and confidence between the two Korean peoples. Most North Koreans appear to do their best in planting trees according to the command of the Party officials. But the success factor for the reforestation process is, as we examined, is the sufficient provision of food and fuel resources other than mountain forests to local people. In addition, the North Korean government should invest more resources to improve erosion controls in the mountains. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHC1bv6Na_c&ab_channel=CTCTV

The reforestation work in North Korea is open to the global citizens. So when the covid situation subsides, the tree planting work can resume.

Questions 6. How can we help conserve these lands?

Answer: I suppose these lands as the DMZ and two pristine mountains alongside--Mt. Keumgang in North Korea and Mt. Seorak in South Korea. Under this covid pandemic, I think raising awareness through various social media outlets seems to be the best way to conserve these lands and forests. The following is a Youtube link you can use: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HxH1rcT9d0&ab_channel=CTCTV

Questions 7. What advice would you give to any person that has the desire to make any type of project to help nature but has no experience or support?

Answer: No worries. Just communicate with people who are doing the similar work with similar desire. No one person can complete this whole project. When more and more people dream the same thing, the dream will come into a reality. Please write your thought and questions to the DMZ Forum: shlee@dmzforum.org or review our website: www.dmzforum.org

Question 8. How can we as international youth potentially visit and work with the people there? Should we be working alongside organizations or groups trusted by North Korea?? If so, who/what are they and how do we plug in?

Answer: Yes, the DMZ Forum is a right organization that can help you get connected with environmental agencies in North Korea. You can go together with the colleagues of the DMZ Forum. Please keep in touch with the DMZ Forum. I think the earliest possible time for a visit to North Korea can be Spring 2022.

Questions 9. Are trees often planted but then used for firewood (for cooking or warmth) since it is easily available?

Answer: Yes, they were easily available for household fuels as there are no other fuel sources in local areas in North Korea. But nowadays people have to go further into the mountains to get the firewood as the level of deforestation worsens. Also, some trees are planted for the purpose of firewood later, but the needs surely far outweigh the supplies.

Question 10. What is stopping this project from reaching completion (if anything)? Seems very feasible.

Answer: I assume the project is the tree planting project in North Korea. The UN and US economic sanctions against North Korea stop the shipment of construction materials such as steel and cement for tree nursery farms to North Korea. These materials are really needed to construct more local tree nursery farms in at least 9 provincial areas for growing more tree saplings. These construction materials are also needed to build more erosion control facilities in the North Korean mountains. For more info, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHC1bv6Na_c&ab_channel=CTCTV