한국은 북한 사회적 개발에 기여할 수 있는 정책들이 많다: UNDP 총재

Seoul is seen as a leading example of socio-economic development.
As inter-Korean ties improve,... some are optimistic its experience could advance human development in the North.
To find out more our Oh Soo-young spoke to one of the leaders of the UN Development Programme.
As Seoul and Pyongyang get ready for their cross-border projects,... the South could have much to offer the North in terms of making socioeconomic progress.
That's according to the United Nations Development Programme's Director of Advocacy, Ulrika Modeer.
In an interview with Arirang TV, the director said she hopes the UN will be able to expand its engagement with North Korea on social development.
"The UN and UNDP being present in both countries also follow with great interest the positive steps forward. The hope of the world is to see peaceful development in the region but development that can also bring human development to the people."
The UNDP is one of the six UN agencies working in North Korea, having established an office there in 1979.
The organization aims to support the UN's strategic priorities for North Korea... by filling gaps in nutrition, energy and disaster preparedness,... especially among women and vulnerable people.
The director expressed optimism that South Korea could share its developmental experience,... as cross-border ties improve.
"I am sure and convinced S. Korea has positive examples to bring... and the Sustainable Development Goals has a heading that says: leave no one behind. I also know there’s an engagement in Korea in the important area of gender equality, and this is something we would also like to bring to any development engagement that we have as UNDP."
The director is currently in Seoul to discuss ways to deepen cooperation with South Korea's foreign aid agency, KOICA, in order to share successful policies with other countries.
"The experience of Korea with regrd to forestation a very important area in these times of discussions of climate change. Governance, and anti-corruption, transparency we see can be exported to other parts of the world in Asia but also African countries."
Relations between South Korea and the UNDP go back more than 50 years.
Starting in 1966, the UNDP provided the South with aid... as it recovered from years of brutal colonial rule by Japan and the Korean War that followed.
Fast forward to 2010,... and S. Korea was the first aid recipient country to become an official donor, and it's been expanding its foreign aid programs since.
The UNDP official hopes Seoul will continue promoting multilateral cooperation amid the rise of nationalism and populism, which could hinder the UN's global development goals.
Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.