Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries

Overview

The committee was founded when the North Korean state was declared. It was modeled after its Soviet equivalent, the All-Union Society for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries. Initially the organization sought to generate goodwill toward North Korea abroad, but after the North Korean famine it has concentrated on acquiring resources. It seeks hard currency from tourism, cultural diplomacy, and foreign direct investment. It is based in Pyongyang.

Ideals

The committee supports the Korean Friendship Association and other friendship societies. The staff of the committee leads a relatively cosmopolitan life with access to foreign travel, people, and goods. Its personnel includes higher-ups in the ruling Workers' Party of Korea and the state security apparatus. The staff arrange business deals with foreigners to evade international trade restrictions and receive a share of the proceeds. Although these deals have had limited success, the committee remains influential as a point of contact for journalists and other foreign visitors, whose guides may be representatives of the committee. Its activities overlap and to some extent compete with those of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In relation to Japan, one of the countries with which North Korea does not have diplomatic relations in East Asia, the association is often the North Korean organization that welcomes non-governmental delegations when they visit North Korea. One example is the visit to North Korea by a group from Sakaiminato City in Tottori Prefecture, which had a friendship city relationship with Wonsan City.

References

References

1. (11 January 2011). "Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries". [[North Korea Tech]].
2. (2 March 2008). "North Korea's Cultural Relations Strategy". North Korean Economy Watch.
3. (7 July 2011). "Philippines donates to DPRK school". North Korean Economy Watch.
4. (12 September 2018). "Science Book Fair Opens". North Korea Leadership Watch.
5. (23 February 2018). "DPRK-Cuba Solidarity Committee Meets". North Korea Leadership Watch.
6. (2013). "Worldwide Government Directory with Intergovernmental Organizations 2013". CQ Press.
7. "都市結ぶ細い糸守る―国同士の関係を補完". [[中国新聞]].