In 1961, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), one of the UN agencies, designated March 23 as World Meteorological Day, to be observed throughout the world, in commemoration of the same day of 1950 when the WMO charter became effective. The purpose of the Day is to promote correct understanding of the meteorological service and bring forth cooperation of the whole of mankind in working towards the reduction of natural disasters. This is the first year of the 1990's, the decade that has been designated by the 42nd UN General Assembly as International Decade, for the Reduction of Natural Disasters. The WMO in turn designated this year as "Year of the Role of the Meteorological Station for the Reduction of Natural Disasters", and is working intensively toward the goal in cooperation with all its members including Korea.