Yonsei Med J.  2019 May;60(5):481-483. 10.3349/ymj.2019.60.5.481.

Underestimated Burden: Non-Communicable Diseases in North Korea

• Ha S
• Lee YH

• KMID: 2443253
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2019.60.5.481

Abstract

There remains a misperception that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are predominantly an issue for developed countries and are not major public health problems in low-income countries. North Korea is also often considered as a country with a disease structure that is typical of a low-income country. Infectious diseases and nutritional problems, including tuberculosis and pneumonia, are still major sources of medical discussion. The authors challenge this misperception by reviewing empirical data on epidemiologic and demographic transitions of North Korea and show that the current NCD burden is the main public health issue in North Korea. In result, it can be said that epidemiologic transition and demographic transition of North Korea preceded prior to economic hardship. It is necessary for the international community, including South Korea, to advance in a new direction of medical support for North Korea.

Keyword

North Korea; non-communicable diseases; epidemiologic transition; demographic transition

MeSH Terms

Communicable Diseases
Democratic People's Republic of Korea*
Developed Countries
Korea
Pneumonia
Population Dynamics
Public Health
Tuberculosis

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