Pyongyang, September 29 (KCNA) -- Non-infectious diseases have recently surfaced as one more serious issue, arousing concern of the international community.

They are caused by smoking, improper use of alcohol, lack of movement, use of unsanitary foodstuff, etc. They include heart and vascular diseases, cancer, chronic lung disease and diabetes.

According to the data released by the UN, the non-infectious diseases claim the lives of 36 million people worldwide every year. This accounts for 63 percent of the death toll caused by various diseases. It is said this surpasses by far the death toll caused by contagious diseases including malaria, AIDS and tuberculosis.

With this death toll swelling year by year in the future, it is expected to reach 52 million in 2030.

It is the view of experts that AIDS was the "pest" in the 20th century but non-infectious diseases are new "pest" in the 21st century.

In view of the above-said danger, a UN high-level meeting on prevention and control of non-infectious diseases took place on Sept. 19 and 20 with an attendance of heads of state and government, government delegates and experts from over 190 countries.

Its participants unanimously called for combating non-infectious diseases as they claim so many human lives and obstruct socio-economic development in the new century.

The meeting adopted an action plan for preventing the non-infectious diseases.

It is the hope of the international community that a worldwide campaign against the said diseases will get intensified with the meeting as an occasion.