North Korea
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Photo: Cassandra Nelson/Mercy Corps
Our strategy
Assist North Koreans impacted by economic collapse, agricultural failure and a lack of medical services by providing them with food, medicine and other critical supplies.
The context
North Korea is well into its second decade of chronic food shortage. Although an infusion of international food aid over the last ten years has helped to stabilize the situation, conditions remain dire. The health system is unable to provide for the needs of common citizens, medicine is in short supply, and electricity is rarely available for the most simple, let alone complicated, procedures.
Our work
- Agriculture & Food: Prioritizing solutions for chronic food insecurity, including the introduction of apple orchards, advanced farming techniques, and sustainable aquaculture to provide a steady source of fish protein
- Health: Supplying medical equipment and generators to hospitals
- Conflict & Governance: Promoting personal and cultural exchanges between U.S. and North Korean citizens to improve technical knowledge and cultural understanding
- Emergency response: Providing emergency food, medicine and other basic supplies after devastating floods
All stories about North Korea
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North Korea: Demystifying our work in North Korea August 20, 2010
In North Korea, Mercy Corps programs focus on alleviating hunger by expanding agricultural production. We also invite North Korean officials to the U.S. as part of building a humanitarian bridge between our country and theirs.
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North Korea: Seeding apple orchards July 7, 2010
Throughout the past 12 years Mercy Corps has been investing in the establishment of diverse, healthy apple orchards in South Hwangae Province as a means of improving the domestic nutritional food-basket.
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North Korea: Food for North Korea's families July 1, 2008
Mercy Corps is taking the lead in a yearlong distribution of 100,000 metric tons of food to quell rampant hunger in North Korea.
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North Korea: Mercy Corps and DHL deliver medicine to flood-affected North Korean families September 6, 2007
The express and logistics company DHL is generously providing a very substantial contribution to cover shipping expenses for urgently-needed medicines headed to North Korea.
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North Korea: Floods ravage North Korea August 14, 2007
Unyielding rain that began in early August has buried large areas of North Korea, killing dozens, destroying more than 30,000 houses and affecting almost one million people.
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North Korea: Seeing for the first time June 13, 2007
For many years, I was privileged to hear firsthand stories of the people of North Korea from my husband, Mercy Corps co-founder Ells Culver.
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North Korea: Ellsworth Culver honored by North Korea for life's work January 17, 2006
On January 10, a representative of the North Korean government honored the late Ellsworth Culver, Mercy Corps' Co-Founder, for his committed, innovative humanitarian work in that country.
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North Korea: Mercy Corps responds to North Korea tragedy June 4, 2004
Mercy Corps is mobilizing staff and resources to mount a quick response to the recent tragedy in Ryongchon, North Korea. Aid workers have been dispatched and truckloads of critical medical supplies has arrived at the devastated site.
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North Korea: Mercy Corps sends 100,000 apple tree rootstocks to North Korea May 24, 2004
Mercy Corps' ongoing Apple Tree Project was launched in 2000 and has been recognized as a model program for sustainable agricultural development in that country.
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North Korea: Mercy Corps plays role in helping improve US-North Korea relations May 21, 2004
Mercy Corps' Co-Founder and Senior Vice President Ells Culver leaves for his 20th trip to North Korea this Saturday, May 22 as the leader of a 12-person delegation from the Pacific Northwest who are accompanying him on a special peace-building mission to North Korea and China.