Community-based public health interventions in North Korea: one non-governmental organization's experience with tuberculosis and hepatitis B

In the past few years, the willingness of the North Korean Government to engage the outside world has increased. This is reflected by the growing number of foreign aid organizations or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that have been permitted entry into the country. NGOs have not only served to improve various aspects of the public health system but also serve as a source of 'on-the-ground' information for the outside world.4 This role has proven critical not only for public health purposes but for facilitating improved international relations between countries.5