Topic: 2024-Private Military Contractors
Country: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Delegate Name: Nova Wilson
Committee: Disarmament and International Security Committee
Topic: Private Military Contractors
Country: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
School: Forest Hills Central High School
In recent years, the presence of private military contractors has been constantly increasing. According to the United Nations Human Rights Working Group on Mercenarism and Private Military and Security Companies (PMCs) are, “a corporate entity which provides on a compensatory basis military and/or security services by physical persons and/or legal entities.” They went on to further define military services as, “specialized services related to military actions including strategic planning, intelligence, investigation, land, sea or air reconnaissance, flight operations of any type, manned or unmanned, satellite surveillance, any kind of knowledge transfer with military applications, material and technical support to armed forces and other related activities.” They elaborate on security services as: “armed guarding or protection of buildings, installations, property and people, any kind of knowledge transfer with security and policing applications, development and implementation of informational security measures and other related activities”. This usage of private military contractors has always been present as mercenaries have always been present in both local and global conflicts. The uptick of PMCs in their current capacity began during the Cold War. The very first use of PMCs originated from a group named Watchguard International in the Middle East. Following the Cold War, there was a rise in the use of PMCs as there was a newfound concentration of military specialists and equipment as they were no longer necessary for the war effort. Many small wars in Africa were fought, and many of them involved the newly available PMCs. Coming off of the post-Cold War era, the presence of PMCs has not vanished as they are now present in the majority of modern conflicts. They can sway the tides of a conflict in one way or another but are not necessarily a negative presence as they can also provide humanitarian aid in and out of conflict zones.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea remains neutral on the usage of PMCs but believes in opening discourse and keeping the interests of all countries in mind. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea urges the delegates of this community to fully weigh the role of PMCs and the legal frameworks around them on the global stage as we face what the future may hold.
