The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has put forward as one of major policies in external economic sector to conduct active service trade with foreign countries as required by the era of the knowledge-based economy.

The government has thus laid solid material and technical foundations for service trade by establishing a comprehensive, self-supporting national economy and socialist education system. On this basis, it has created an environment favourable for carrying on service trade in the fields of IT industry, construction, transportation, finance, telecommunications, intellectual property and others, and prepared competent technical personnel.

In accordance with the global trend and development that the service industry has a considerable effect on the economic development in every country, it encourages all sectors of the national economy to push forward with the service trade.

Many construction businesses, designing establishments and trading companies engage in mine development, infrastructure construction and other projects in European and Asian countries.

External construction companies are engaged in construction projects of presidential palaces, government buildings, monumental edifices, parks, roads and apartment houses in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Tourist service trade is in full swing in the country.

In recent years the government established the Wonsan-Kumgangsan International Tourist Zone in the picturesque Wonsan and Mt Kumgang area, the Onsongsom Tourist Development Zone in North Hamgyong Province and the Chongsu Tourist Development Zone in North Phyongan Province.

Thanks to the efforts of tourist agencies and service businesses to improve their service, foreign tourists are provided with quality services in tourism, lodging, restaurant, amusement, passenger transportation, telecommunications, sales and so on.

Necessary measures are taken to provide tourists with convenience in tourism, accommodation, telecommunications, banking, rest and amusement at tourist resorts in Mts Kumgang and Chilbo, the Masikryong Ski Resort and the like.

A variety of tourist services, such as tours to historical remains and relics and sporting tours, draw a large number of foreign tourists every year. In addition, services are available in sales, catering, medicine, advertisement, technical inspection and analysis, equipment maintenance and repair, printing and so on.

At present the government is taking positive measures to make service trade brisker.

It sees to it that its businesses are more interested in service functions for technicalintensive industry and should improve their qualities and expand the scope by abiding by the relevant laws and regulations.

It also ensures that all the businesses engaged in service trade should build database for service markets and use them for detailed investigation.

The government has set up a regular system for training service experts, while intensifying education and refresher courses for service workers and holding short courses, internships, field trips and presentations aimed at improving relevant techniques and methods.

Strenuous efforts are channelled into developing new service technologies and consolidating material and technical foundations for service trade in the fields of information technology, external construction, medicine, tourism, port and others.

The government of the DPRK will conduct energetic service trade activities and thus expand and develop the external economic relations with foreign countries.