Summary/Abstract
Deforestation in North Korea is a critical environmental issue that draws the attention of the international community. This study provides an overview of North Korea’s efforts and its interaction with South Korean and international organizations on reforestation, and identifies institutional aspects that hinder implementation of cooperative governance arrangements. Given the limited information on North Korea, secondary data from a variety of official and non-official sources was used. South Korea’s governance structure was identified through face-to-face interviews with representatives from 17 organizations. The results show that although the foundation has been laid, linkages with North Korean counterparts are currently dysfunctional and uncoordinated. A multi-stakeholder approach is proposed under North Korean leadership that should allow direct engagement with key international actors, without an intermediary institution. However, the main barrier to cooperation remains political, as North Korea fears open exposure to foreign influences that challenge its political-economic system.