It is a unanimous desire of all countries and peoples of the world to put an end to the centuries-old history of inequality, hunger, poverty and illiteracy and to lead an abundant and civilized life in a peaceful world.
In reflection of this aspiration of humankind, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) was established on November 16, 1945, with a mission to contribute to global peace and security by increasing international cooperation in the fields of education, science, culture and information.
Now 75 years since, UNESCO's efforts to build a peaceful and civilized world are enjoying support and welcome by the world progressive people.
UNESCO pays great attention to raising every country's awareness of the importance of education – a buttress of peace and development. It also encourages the setting of new standards and indices for development of global education and promotes assistance to the developing countries while giving priority to the education development in African countries.
UNESCO also has coordinated the efforts of all countries of the world for promoting healthy development of science and further strengthened the knowledge information systems for protection of ecosystem and water resources on earth and improvement of marine management. It has made active contributions to the sustainable development of the world, to include further enriching the treasure house of human civilization by protecting and increasing a lot of tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the world.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK) has actively cooperated with the UNESCO's efforts for attaining the Sustainable Development Goals in conformity with its policy to build a civilized socialist country, a country capable of developing the cutting-edge science and technology.
Under the wise leadership of Chairman Kim Jong Un of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK, the DPRK government is steadily and consistently pushing forward the work to improve education quality of the country by enforcing the universal 12-year compulsory and free education system and increasing state investment in the education sector. The government is also actively promoting the development of hi-tech industries and knowledge-driven economy by accelerating the integration of production and fruitful scientific research results which are achieved in the course of upholding the teaching of Chairman Kim Jong Un of the State Affairs Commission that science and technology should be a beacon light that illuminates the path ahead and leads the socialist economic development.
We expect that UNESCO will continue to play its due role in achieving genuine international justice and prosperity in accordance with its purpose and mission for the development of civilization to be shared by humankind and on the principles of respect for sovereignty, equality, unity and mutual benefits.
The government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will, as ever, increase cooperation and exchanges with the international organizations and the countries around the world so as to build a peaceful and civilized world under the banner of independence.
(DPRK MFA - November 16, 2020)