Contributing to improved and sustainable food security and livelihoods, while focusing on economic and institutional development is at the heart of the DPRK programme. The overall objectives of SDC are therefore institution and capacity building, which incorporate extensive dialogue, exchanges, knowledge and know how transfer. The team of five expatriates and nine National Programme Officers, SDC thus supports the following programs:

• Sustainable agricultural production to address food security problems
• Capacity development progamme
• A Pilot agricultural credit scheme

These activities foster increased economic activity in which people participate, from which they subsequently benefit and by which they integrate the global community. This development program evolved from humanitarian aid which was provided to the DPRK in 1995 when the DPRK suffered floods, droughts and subsequent structural damage.

The initial Swiss humanitarian endeavour and its present development focus in the DPRK is based upon a long standing relationship between Switzerland and the Korean peninsula. At the end of the Korean war in 1953, the armistice agreement was signed and the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) in Panmunjom was established along a Demarcation Zone (DMZ) between the North and the South. The first ninety-six member Swiss delegation arrived in August 1953. Today, a small Swiss delegation at the DMZ continues to ensure that communication channels remain open to build bridges among all parties.

Diplomatic ties were established in December of 1974 and marked the beginning of a long-term relationship between Switzerland and the DPRK. In 2003, the Swiss Foreign Minister, Micheline Calmy-Rey walked across the demarcation line between the North and the South leading to annual political dialogue meetings held in DPRK or Switzerland.

In May 2007, Switzerland and Sweden presented a joint document entitled ‘Tools for building Confidence on the Korean Peninsula’ to the DPRK Ministry of Foreign Affairs which was then distributed to the governments of China, Japan, South Korea and the United States. In October of the same year, Switzerland hosted a Six Party Talk, working sub group meeting between the US and the DPRK.