This study examined the characteristics and problems of the social welfare delivery system of North Korea with special reference to food supply, healthcare, and childcare. We examined the legal framework concerning social welfare and the actual state of social welfare delivery in North Korea.

The findings of this study are as follows. First, the delivery system of the food supply of the North Korean authorities is virtually paralyzed, benefiting only a small number of people in selected areas. As a result, the national food supply system of the North Korean authorities is not functioning properly for the general public, and corruption and marketization are widespread across the process of food supply.

Next, the healthcare delivery system of North Korea is organized systematically under the management of its health ministry. However, contrary to its institutional dimension, the healthcare delivery system of North Korea is found to be in a seriously critical condition.

Finally, the delivery of childcare is becoming increasingly personalized, as is the case for healthcare. In addition, education programs North Korea’s childcare service sector remain in poor quality, while there is a wide gap difference in quality between the ideology-based education and the childcare services intended for privileged classes.