We have clarified the laws and features of different countries regarding the circular economy worldwide in our study, and then demonstrated the contents and features of the recycling law adopted in the DPRK in three aspects.
The essential features of the DPRK recycling law which we have theoretically clarified are as follows.
First, there is a difference in the scope of the law. The recycling legislation of other countries generally covers one aspect of recycling activities or one aspect of recycling purposes, whereas the DPRK recycling law includes activities for the comprehensive treatment of wastes from all sectors and units.
Secondly, it defines recycling planning as an important legal obligation. This is a feature not easily found in other countries' circular economic laws.
Third, to regulate the guidance, supervision, control of recycling, scientific research on recycling, and the assurance, assessment, and punishment of material conditions as legal obligations.
This can be seen as involving the whole process of efforts to implement a circular economy.
The conclusions we have found from these clarifications are as follows.
First, the more advanced the science and technology and the more complete the economic structure, the more complete the legal environment associated with the circular economy, and secondly, the more active the use of the national planning space is to be made for the transition to the circular economy to be made mandatory.
The results of this study were published in "Environmental Science and Pollution Research" (vol. 31 (2024)) under the title of "Recycling law for promotion of circular economy and its characteristics in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea"(https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-30795-z).
