The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has been elected to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) executive board.
Dr. Jong Min Pak of the North Korean Ministry of Public Health has been appointed to the WHO’s executive board for a term extending until 2026.
The communist state’s new position on the board gives them sway over the organization’s agenda and policy recommendations.
The move drew quick criticism from neighboring South Korea’s government, which cited North Korea’s history of ignoring WHO and its parent agency, the United Nations.
“It is questionable whether North Korea, which has continued to contravene [United Nations Security Council] resolutions and disregard the U.N.’s authority, meets the standards for a WHO executive board member, which should abide by international norms, pursued by the U.N., and contribute to enhancing global health,” the South Korean foreign and health ministries said of the decision.
Experts from Australia, Barbados, Cameroon, Qatar, Switzerland, and Ukraine are among the other members of the board who were recently elected.
The World Health Organization is a United Nations-specialized organization that falls under the Sustainable Development Group.
The organization was established in 1948 in connection with the establishment of the United Nations, and it has a broad scope as the international regulatory body monitoring public health threats and overseeing the emergency response.
WHO defunding advocacy by Texas representative and North Korea’s rocket launch failure
The WHO, headquartered in Geneva, has 194 member countries and a $2.1 billion yearly budget.
Texas Representative Chip Roy issued a quick statement on social media advocating for the WHO to be defunded due to the election.
“Not a single taxpayer cent should fund this Communist garbage #DefundWHO,” wrote Roy.
North Korea launched a rocket early Wednesday morning, putting neighboring South Korea and Japan on high alert before ultimately failing.
According to state media, the rocket carrying the satellite crashed into waters off the western coast of the Korean Peninsula after losing thrust due to the separation of its first and second stages. It stated that scientists were investigating the cause of the failure.
Following the launch, officials in South Korea’s capital, Seoul, issued evacuation alerts over public speakers and smartphones, but there were no immediate indications of damage or interruption.