The UN convention on combating desertification in countries with serious drought and desertification and in Africa in particular was concluded in Paris, France on June 17, 1994.

That year the 49th Session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to mark June 17, when the UN Convention on Combating Desertification was inked, as the World Day for Combating Desertification and Drought.

Many countries are holding meetings and events on various subjects for combating desertification and drought to mark the day, the paper says, and continues:

The desertification and drought are one of the serious problems facing mankind.

So, many countries have made efforts to prevent the desertification by planting trees and to create the favorable environment for ecological and environmental conservation.

The DPRK acceded to the convention in December 2003. It has directed vigorous efforts to the ecological and environmental protection including the work to turn the whole country into woodland in hearty response to the Party's intention to turn all the mountains into gold mountains with green forests.

Our Republic will make positive efforts to protect the land and provide more civilized life for the people by directing sustained great efforts to the environmental protection in the future, too.