May 8 is World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day.
The ideal of the Red Cross and Red Crescent does not assume any governmental, national and political characters. It assumes only humanitarian character of preventing and relieving the pain of human beings.
The origin of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement is related to war.
The movement originated in a big battle in Solferino in northern Italy in June 1859.
In the battle both sides suffered 40 000 casualties and the injured were bleeding to death with no medical assistance. At that time, Henri Dunant, a young Swiss who passed the area on a business tour, helped the wounded soldiers who had suffered a misfortune by rousing up its residents.
He later wrote a book in memory of Solferino and in it he proposed establishing humanitarian organizations which were able to assist with medical activities in all countries and concluding an international convention on protecting the people engaged in relief operations in the battlefield.
His proposal was supported in Switzerland, with the result that the “international committee for relieving wounded persons” was organized in 1863 to realize the humanitarian ideal and later it was renamed the International Committee of the Red Cross in 1876.
Red Cross organizations were formed in many countries to meet the growing demand after the First World War and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies was founded in 1919 as they felt the need to cooperate with each other and coordinate their activities more closely.
Today, Red Cross activities are vigorously conducted to protect the lives and health of the people from frequent disputes and natural disasters in different countries and regions of the world and stabilize their life.
Founded on October 18 1946, the DPRK Red Cross Society joined the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in May 1956 and is playing the role of an auxiliary organization of the DPRK government in various fields including public health, hygiene, relief work and disaster prevention.
The DPRK Red Cross Society has made every effort to improve the health and well-being of the people by thoroughly applying the people-first principle to its work.
More From Pyongyang Times
Vivian Balakrishnan, foreign minister of the Republic of Singapore, and his party left Pyongyang on May 27 after visiting the
May 29, 2026
Vivian Balakrishnan, foreign minister of the Republic of Singapore, and his party left Pyongyang on May 27 after visiting the
Dmitri Medvedev, vice-chairman of the Russian Security Council, stressed that the collapse of Ukraine is inevitable, through an
May 29, 2026
Dmitri Medvedev, vice-chairman of the Russian Security Council, stressed that the collapse of Ukraine is inevitable, through an
Dozens of young people in Kangwon Province have volunteered to work at major worksites for socialist construction. Graduates of
May 29, 2026
Dozens of young people in Kangwon Province have volunteered to work at major worksites for socialist construction. Graduates of
Vivian Balakrishnan, foreign minister of the Republic of Singapore, and his party arrived in Pyongyang on May 26 to visit the
May 28, 2026
Vivian Balakrishnan, foreign minister of the Republic of Singapore, and his party arrived in Pyongyang on May 26 to visit the
Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 22 condemned a terrorist attack by the Ukrainian army on a college in the Lugansk
May 28, 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 22 condemned a terrorist attack by the Ukrainian army on a college in the Lugansk
The players of the Naegohyang Team returned home on May 26 after winning the 2025-2026 AFC Women's Champions League. In the
May 28, 2026
The players of the Naegohyang Team returned home on May 26 after winning the 2025-2026 AFC Women's Champions League. In the
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry censured Japan for its move to deploy the US’ medium-range missiles at a news
May 28, 2026
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry censured Japan for its move to deploy the US’ medium-range missiles at a news
Choe Son Hui, minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, had talks with Vivian Balakrishnan,
May 28, 2026
Choe Son Hui, minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, had talks with Vivian Balakrishnan,
The slogan “Unite on the strength of patriotism!” can be seen everywhere in the country.The might of the people who are united on
May 28, 2026
The slogan “Unite on the strength of patriotism!” can be seen everywhere in the country.The might of the people who are united on
The Foreign Ministry of Belarus called the charge d'affaires ad interim of the Lithuanian embassy in Belarus on May 21 in
May 27, 2026
The Foreign Ministry of Belarus called the charge d'affaires ad interim of the Lithuanian embassy in Belarus on May 21 in
A spring amateur golf tournament took place at the Pyongyang Golf Course. The amateur golf tournament has been held every May and
May 27, 2026
A spring amateur golf tournament took place at the Pyongyang Golf Course. The amateur golf tournament has been held every May and
The respected Marshal Kim Jong Un received a letter from the participants in the 26th Congress of the General Association of
May 27, 2026
The respected Marshal Kim Jong Un received a letter from the participants in the 26th Congress of the General Association of
The 26th Congress of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) was held at the Korean Hall of Culture in
May 27, 2026
The 26th Congress of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) was held at the Korean Hall of Culture in
The relay teams of members of the Korean Children's Union from all provinces carrying their letters of loyalty to be presented to
May 27, 2026
The relay teams of members of the Korean Children's Union from all provinces carrying their letters of loyalty to be presented to
Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the State Duma of Russia, denounced Baltic nations’ hostility
May 26, 2026
Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the State Duma of Russia, denounced Baltic nations’ hostility
A rally was held in Tokyo, Japan, on May 19 to protest against the revision of the constitution being pushed by the authorities.
May 26, 2026
A rally was held in Tokyo, Japan, on May 19 to protest against the revision of the constitution being pushed by the authorities.
Since olden times, the Korean people have widely used the Paektusan bog bilberry, one of the national specialities, in their
May 26, 2026
Since olden times, the Korean people have widely used the Paektusan bog bilberry, one of the national specialities, in their
The Naegohyang Team of the DPRK won first place and lifted the trophy in the 2025-2026 AFC Women's Champions League. There took
May 25, 2026
The Naegohyang Team of the DPRK won first place and lifted the trophy in the 2025-2026 AFC Women's Champions League. There took
The African centre for disease control and prevention declared a state of public health emergency on May 18 in connection with the
May 25, 2026
The African centre for disease control and prevention declared a state of public health emergency on May 18 in connection with the
The Sangwon Cement Complex, a leading building-materials production base of the country, is achieving good production results. On
May 25, 2026
The Sangwon Cement Complex, a leading building-materials production base of the country, is achieving good production results. On
More Articles
