Wildlife of
North Korea

Primary Threats

• Forest habitat has been reduced and fragmented by historical clearing, repeated cutting for household energy, and conversion of steep slopes to marginal farmland (often linked to food-security pressures). Lowland wetlands and tidal flats-critical for migratory birds on the Yellow Sea-face drainage/reclamation and development pressures, shrinking and fragmenting feeding/roosting areas.
• Timber extraction and especially fuelwood collection have been major drivers of forest degradation in many regions, contributing to sparse canopy cover, reduced old-growth structure, and increased erosion/landslide risk on mountainous terrain.
• Cultivation on hillsides and conversion of valley bottoms for crops (including terracing and clearing of scrub/forest) can reduce native vegetation and simplify habitats, while increasing sediment runoff into rivers and coastal wetlands used by migratory birds.
• River regulation, embankments, irrigation works, and wetland drainage/land reclamation alter natural hydrology, affecting floodplain function and sediment delivery to estuaries and tidal flats on the west coast. These changes can reduce invertebrate prey and shallow-water habitats essential for waterbirds.
• Hydropower dams, roads, and coastal/river engineering projects can fragment habitats and disrupt connectivity (notably along river corridors and coastal plains). Infrastructure in sensitive coastal areas can also increase disturbance in key bird staging and wintering sites.
• Localized industrial emissions, untreated/partly treated municipal wastewater, agricultural nutrient runoff, and mine tailings/acid drainage can degrade freshwater and estuarine water quality. Downstream impacts are especially relevant for west-coast wetlands and nearshore fisheries that depend on clean, productive waters.
• Coal and metal mining in mountainous regions can cause habitat loss, erosion, and water contamination from tailings and runoff, affecting headwater streams and downstream river systems that support biodiversity and human water supplies.
• Subsistence hunting and opportunistic poaching can pressure mammals and birds, particularly in rural areas where wild meat may supplement diets. This can be significant for slow-reproducing species (e.g., ungulates and carnivores) and for waterbirds if access to wetlands increases.
• Cross-border trafficking risks exist due to proximity to China and Russia, with potential demand for animal parts used in traditional medicines, trophies, or the pet trade. Even low-level offtake can be damaging for rare species with small, fragmented populations.
• Coastal and nearshore fisheries in the Yellow Sea and East Sea can be stressed by high fishing effort, illegal/unregulated harvest, and competition with distant-water fleets. Declines in fish and invertebrates can ripple through marine food webs and reduce prey availability for seabirds and coastal wildlife.
• Warming temperatures and more variable rainfall can increase drought-flood swings, amplifying erosion on deforested slopes and damaging crops (which can in turn intensify pressure to clear land). Sea-level rise and storm surges threaten low-lying west-coast wetlands and tidal flats that are crucial for migratory birds on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.
• High dependence on local biomass (fuelwood), wild foods, and non-timber forest products can degrade ecosystems when harvest exceeds regeneration, especially near settlements and along accessible valleys and roads.
• Disturbance from farming, fishing, construction, and increased access to coastal flats can reduce breeding/wintering success of waterbirds and disrupt sensitive wildlife. Conversely, restricted/militarized zones may reduce disturbance in some areas, creating uneven pressure across landscapes.
• Crop-raiding (e.g., by wild boar and other adaptable species) can drive retaliatory killing or increased snaring/poisoning, especially where livelihoods depend heavily on small-scale agriculture and damage-compensation mechanisms are limited.
• Data are limited, but risks include introductions associated with aquaculture (non-native fish/shellfish), forestry/agricultural plantings, and disturbed habitats where invasive plants can establish-potentially altering wetlands and riparian zones.
• Transboundary animal diseases affecting wildlife and livestock (e.g., avian influenza along migratory bird routes; African swine fever affecting wild boar and pigs) can cause population declines and complicate conservation and rural livelihoods, particularly where monitoring capacity is constrained.
• For rare and wide-ranging species, fragmentation of forest blocks and reduced connectivity across developed/agricultural areas can isolate small populations, increasing inbreeding risk and reducing resilience-especially for large carnivores and other low-density species at the edges of their regional ranges.