Energy Poverty in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea: A Study of Evidence-Based Policy Making and Data Visualizations
Giang Nguyen
University of Iowa
Paul Chun
ISR Foundation C
Helene Cho
Asaph Young Chun
U.S. Census Bureau
The purpose of the paper is to demonstrate the power of evidence-based policy making in developing countries by combining multiples sources of data, leveraging data analytics, and conducting data visualization. As a case study, we investigate fundamentals of energy supplies and demands in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, also known as, North Korea) and provide information useful to policymakers with a goal to assess energy needs and solutions tailored to the Korean population. DPRK has been extensively relying on hydroelectric power and consumable energy such as coal and wood. The former has been quite unstable due to the outdated infrastructure of hydroelectric plants that is not amenable to drastic changes in weather like drought and floods. The latter has its limit to fill the energy needs of the population in DPRK due to limited resources. This paper examines energy poverty in DPRK with that of other countries to inform the process of energy policy making in DPRK and provides evidence-based policy implications to neighboring countries and the United Nations.