In 2007 the U.S.-DPRK Scientific Engagement Consortium was established to explore collaborative science activities between the U.S. and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Collectively, the Consortium members-the U.S. Civilian Research & Development Foundation (CRDF), the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Syracuse University (SU) and The Korea Society (TKS)-have decades of extensive experience in successfully establishing and advancing international scientific collaborations, including with the DPRK. The Consortium hopes this approach will improve versatility, avoid duplication of efforts, economize the efforts of multiple institutions to remain in compliance with U.S. law and policy, and ultimately launch a coordinated effort to support future collaborations.

The Consortium was created with a workshop held at CRDF in May 2007, where fifty participants-including representatives from nine US universities-discussed shared experiences, lessons learned, successes and challenges regarding scientific collaboration with the DPRK. The workshop, funded by the Richard Lounsbery Foundation, demonstrated a strong interest by a number of U.S. universities to work towards collaboration with DPRK academics in a variety of key areas of scientific exchange, including agriculture, information technology, and health.

The Consortium has since worked hard to raise awareness with the U.S. and DPRK governments about the value of science engagement in building relations-hosting several concurrent activities including discussions at the annual AAAS meetings. In 2009 the Consortium hopes to send a Nobel Laureate led delegation to the DPRK funded by the Lounsbery Foundation. This delegation will launch a dialogue regarding each country's respective science and policy infrastructure and seek to identify research areas of mutual interest.

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