Inter-Korean cultural and humanitarian cooperation at the present stage

Abstract

The cooperation of the DPRK and the Republic of Korea (ROK) in the spheres of culture, sports and science is a crucial component of relations between these countries. The latest decade, which began with Kim Jong-un coming to power in the DPRK, included some rewarding and diverse cultural and humanitarian events such as the Olympic warming of 2018, when the world witnessed an activation of interKorean diplomatic dialogue. The article provides examples of both successful and failed joint initiatives in cultural and humanitarian spheres. Among them are symbolically important performances of the joint Korean team during major sports events, exchanges of music concerts, projects involving visual arts. Both sides have taken measures to vitalize scientific cooperation, but did not succeed. After the political dialogue returned to former tense state, cooperation in cultural and humanitarian spheres also came to naught even before the DPRK closed its borders in 2020 due to the COVID-19 epidemic

Keywords

• dprk
• republic of korea (rok)
• inter-korean relations
• cultural andhumanitarian cooperation
• foreign policy
• cultural exchange