Asia · Eastern Asia

North Korea

Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Flag of North Korea
Local Time
--:--:--
UTC+09:00
🏛️ Capital
Pyongyang
👥 Population
25,950,000
📐 Area
120,538 km²
💱 Currency
North Korean won (₩)
🗣️ Languages
Korean
📞 Calling Code
+850
🕐 Time Zones
UTC+09:00
🌐 Region
Asia / Eastern Asia

About North Korea

North Korea — officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea — is the world's most isolated nation and one of the most fascinating and challenging destinations any traveller can attempt to visit. Access is extremely restricted, all tourism must be conducted through state-approved agencies, and every aspect of your itinerary is controlled by government-assigned guides. And yet, for travellers who navigate these constraints thoughtfully and responsibly, North Korea offers an experience of extraordinary strangeness, historical depth, and unexpected human connection that no other destination on Earth replicates.

Pyongyang, the capital, is a city unlike any other — a meticulously planned showcase of socialist architecture on a grand scale, where monumental bronze statues, vast public squares, and impeccably maintained boulevards create an atmosphere simultaneously theatrical and deeply sobering. The Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the Mass Games spectacle involving tens of thousands of performers, and the vast Kim Il-sung Square stand as evidence of a propaganda aesthetic taken to its most extreme expression. Beneath the orchestrated surfaces, glimpses of ordinary North Korean daily life — children at play, workers cycling through tree-lined avenues, market activity — offer fleeting but profound human moments.

Beyond Pyongyang, the countryside, the Myohyangsan Mountains, and the scenic coastal areas reveal a country of natural beauty largely untouched by the industrialisation and tourist infrastructure of its neighbours. Travel here requires preparation, care, and a clear-eyed understanding of both the extraordinary privilege and the ethical complexities involved in visiting one of the world's most repressive regimes.

History & Background

The Korean peninsula has been inhabited for tens of thousands of years, with the Three Kingdoms period (Goguryeo, Baekje, Silla) representing one of the great eras of Korean civilisation. The peninsula was unified under the Goryeo Dynasty from 918 CE — from which the name "Korea" derives — and later under the Joseon Dynasty which lasted from 1392 to 1897. Japanese occupation from 1910 to 1945 was a period of brutal suppression of Korean culture, language, and identity that left deep wounds that continue to shape the peninsula's political psychology.

Following Japan's defeat in World War II, Korea was divided at the 38th parallel between Soviet and American spheres of influence. Kim Il-sung, backed by the Soviet Union, established the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the north in 1948. The Korean War (1950–1953) devastated both halves of the peninsula and ended without a formal peace treaty, leaving the two Koreas technically still at war, separated by the world's most heavily militarised border. The Kim dynasty has ruled the north through a totalitarian system ever since, maintaining power through surveillance, political repression, and an all-encompassing cult of personality.

Culture & People

North Korean culture is shaped almost entirely by the philosophy of Juche — a state ideology of self-reliance developed by Kim Il-sung — and the cult of personality surrounding the Kim dynasty, now in its third generation. Korean traditional culture in music, dance, and visual art has been harnessed in service of the state; performances like the Mass Games (Arirang Festival) synthesise spectacular artistic achievement with explicitly political messaging. Traditional Korean arts including calligraphy, ceramics, and folk music coexist with the highly controlled modern culture.

For the visitor, interactions with North Korean guides and citizens are carefully managed, but genuine humanity breaks through constantly: a shared laugh, curiosity about the outside world expressed quietly, pride in Korean history and food. Korean culture predates the division of the peninsula by millennia — the traditions of Confucian social hierarchy, ancestor reverence, communal identity, and the central importance of family are visible even within the constraints of the current system. The country's extraordinary embroidery, painting, and architectural heritage represent a genuine cultural richness that exists alongside — and sometimes in tension with — the demands of the state.

Food & Cuisine

North Korean cuisine shares many characteristics with South Korean food but has its own regional variations and a characteristic simplicity that reflects both historical scarcity and a preference for clean, natural flavours. Pyongyang cold noodles — naengmyeon — are the city's most famous culinary export: thin buckwheat noodles served in a chilled meat broth with pickled vegetables and a hard-boiled egg, eaten year-round but particularly refreshing in summer. The dish is so beloved that South Koreans make pilgrimages to Pyongyang-style cold noodle restaurants.

Tourists are generally fed well in designated restaurants, where a typical meal includes multiple side dishes (banchan), rice, soup, and grilled meat. Kaesong kimchi, made from the distinctive white kimchi style of the region, and dog meat dishes (boshintang) may appear on menus — travellers should be prepared to encounter dishes unfamiliar in Western contexts. North Korean beer, particularly Taedonggang beer brewed in Pyongyang, has attracted genuine international acclaim and is a surprisingly pleasant accompaniment to any meal in the capital.

Top Attractions

  • Kumsusan Palace of the Sun — The mausoleum where Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il lie in state, a profound and sobering experience requiring strict dress code.
  • Kim Il-sung Square — Pyongyang's vast ceremonial heart, flanked by monumental buildings and the site of mass parades and national celebrations.
  • Myohyangsan International Friendship Exhibition — A vast complex housing gifts received by the Kim leaders from foreign governments and dignitaries worldwide.
  • Panmunjom DMZ — The Joint Security Area at the Korean demilitarised zone, one of the most tension-filled places on Earth and an unforgettable experience.
  • Pyongyang Metro — A functional but extraordinarily ornate Soviet-style underground railway decorated with mosaics, chandeliers, and ideological artwork.
  • Masikryong Ski Resort — A surprisingly well-equipped ski resort near Wonsan, accessible to tourists in winter months.

Practical Travel Tips

  • Book through a licensed specialist tour operator — independent travel is not permitted, and all tourists must be accompanied by state-assigned guides at all times.
  • Research the ethical considerations carefully before booking; understand the implications of tourism revenue flowing to the North Korean government.
  • Leave any religious materials, politically sensitive literature, or items with South Korean branding at home — border searches are thorough.
  • Photography is permitted in many places but always ask your guide before shooting; photographing military personnel, construction sites, or poverty is strictly forbidden.
  • Be respectful and deferential around all statues, images, and memorials to the Kim family — your guide will brief you on the protocol required.
  • Bring all necessary medications as foreign pharmaceuticals are unavailable, and carry cash in Euros or Chinese yuan as foreign credit cards cannot be used.

Visa Overview

Visiting North Korea requires far more than a standard tourist visa. All travellers must book through a specialist licensed tour operator, who arranges the required tourist visa as part of the tour package. American citizens have been effectively banned from tourism since 2017. South Korean passport holders are also generally unable to visit. All other nationalities must apply through approved operators well in advance. Your passport must not contain South Korean entry stamps. Travel is not possible independently and the visa is only valid when travelling as part of an organised group tour.

Getting Around

Entry to North Korea is possible by air via Air Koryo — the state airline flying from Beijing and occasionally other Chinese cities — or by train from Beijing via Dandong on the Chinese border. All movement within the country is managed by your tour guides, who accompany you throughout your stay. Private exploration is not permitted. Tour buses and designated vehicles are used for all inter-site travel. The Pyongyang Metro and local buses can sometimes be included in tour itineraries but are not independently accessible. Your tour operator will handle all logistics from the moment you land.

Safety Notes

North Korea is not a conventional safety risk in terms of crime — tourists are not typically targeted for theft or violence. The real risks are political and legal: behaviour considered disrespectful to the state or its leadership can result in detention, and several tourists have been imprisoned for actions that would be harmless elsewhere. Always follow your guide's instructions precisely, even if they seem excessive. Do not photograph anything your guide advises against, and be extremely careful with any written or digital material you bring into the country. Comprehensive travel insurance is essential, though medical evacuation is logistically complex.

Live Exchange Rates

Current exchange rates for currencies used in North Korea.

North Korean won (KPW) ₩
Updated: 2026-08-20
⌕
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 0.012841
AAVE 0.000012
ADA 0.005969
AED 0.004081
AFN 0.072734
AGIX 0.019530
AKT 0.002162
ALGO 0.013499
ALL 0.088173
AMD 0.403387
AMP 2.896875
ANG 0.001991
AOA 1.020578
APE 0.008641
APT 0.001987
AR 0.000598
ARB 0.012705
ARS 1.663668
ATOM 0.000745
ATS 0.013090
AUD 0.001563
AVAX 0.000164
AWG 0.001989
AXS 0.001233
AZM 9.445616
AZN 0.001889
BAKE 1.597573
BAM 0.001861
BAT 0.017772
BBD 0.002223
BCH 0.000005
BDT 0.135217
BEF 0.038376
BGN 0.001861
BHD 0.000418
BIF 3.305296
BMD 0.001111
BNB 0.000002
BND 0.001413
BOB 0.012764
BRL 0.005755
BSD 0.001111
BSV 0.000069
BSW 3.066356
BTC 0.000000
BTCB 0.018775
BTG 0.002533
BTN 0.106262
BTT 4,084.627143
BUSD 0.001111
BWP 0.014948
BYN 0.003360
BYR 21.777771
BZD 0.002232
CAD 0.001534
CAKE 0.000690
CDF 2.547497
CELO 0.017757
CFX 0.025372
CHF 0.000888
CHZ 0.086932
CLP 1.024129
CNH 0.007474
CNY 0.007474
COMP 0.000060
COP 3.392487
CRC 0.500308
CRO 0.022302
CRV 0.004259
CSPR 0.416085
CUC 0.001111
CUP 0.029444
CVE 0.104902
CVX 0.000687
CYP 0.000557
CZK 0.022993
DAI 0.001111
DASH 0.000035
DCR 0.000094
DEM 0.001861
DFI 1.116804
DJF 0.197375
DKK 0.007112
DOGE 0.014802
DOP 0.064901
DOT 0.001404
DYDX 0.010102
DZD 0.147482
EEK 0.014885
EGLD 0.000391
EGP 0.056288
ENJ 0.043917
EOS 0.016838
ERN 0.016669
ESP 0.158287
ETB 0.180600
ETC 0.000168
ETH 0.000000
EUR 0.000951
EURC 0.000958
FEI 0.001110
FIL 0.001651
FIM 0.005656
FJD 0.002445
FKP 0.000817
FLOW 0.038435
FLR 0.172836
FRAX 0.001121
FRF 0.006240
FTT 0.005354
GALA 0.771217
GBP 0.000817
GEL 0.002895
GGP 0.000817
GHC 122.966019
GHS 0.012297
GIP 0.000817
GMD 0.082350
GMX 0.000163
GNF 9.752209
GNO 0.000009
GRD 0.324163
GRT 0.079422
GT 0.000160
GTQ 0.008459
GUSD 0.001113
GYD 0.231151
HBAR 0.015680
HKD 0.008715
HNL 0.029709
HNT 0.006411
HOT 3.290749
HRK 0.007168
HT 0.009785
HTG 0.144535
HUF 0.346198
ICP 0.000479
IDR 19.782858
IEP 0.000749
ILS 0.003310
IMP 0.000817
IMX 0.010622
INJ 0.000239
INR 0.106262
IQD 1.447372
IRR 1,527.332835
ISK 0.135288
ITL 1.842016
JEP 0.000817
JMD 0.174574
JOD 0.000788
JPY 0.175977
KAS 0.041675
KAVA 0.026998
KCS 0.000152
KDA 0.236666
KES 0.143846
KGS 0.097286
KHR 4.475537
KLAY 0.045211
KMF 0.468020
KNC 0.010501
KRW 1.548679
KSM 0.000361
KWD 0.000343
KYD 0.000923
KZT 0.512601
LAK 24.913903
LBP 99.329603
LDO 0.003280
LEO 0.000120
LINK 0.000106
LKR 0.365657
LRC 0.139686
LRD 0.201209
LSL 0.017892
LTC 0.000024
LTL 0.003285
LUF 0.038376
LUNA 0.025133
LUNC 21.995968
LVL 0.000669
LYD 0.007032
MAD 0.010284
MANA 0.016576
MBX 0.053738
MDL 0.019049
MGA 4.759789
MGF 23.798945
MINA 0.026004
MKD 0.058672
MKR 0.000001
MMK 2.333072
MNT 3.997721
MOP 0.008976
MRO 0.442601
MRU 0.044260
MTL 0.000408
MUR 0.052197
MVR 0.017179
MWK 1.918120
MXN 0.018833
MXV 0.002150
MYR 0.004493
MZM 70.915293
MZN 0.070915
NAD 0.017892
NEAR 0.000637
NEO 0.000611
NEXO 0.001488
NFT 3,945.805943
NGN 1.496555
NIO 0.040775
NLG 0.002096
NOK 0.010366
NPR 0.170098
NZD 0.001870
OKB 0.000011
OMR 0.000428
ONE 1.540291
OP 0.012512
ORDI 0.000302
PAB 0.001111
PAXG 0.000000
PEN 0.003724
PEPE 383.623970
PGK 0.004989
PHP 0.068475
PI 0.012366
PKR 0.307209
PLN 0.004109
POL 0.013614
PTE 0.190723
PYG 6.649440
QAR 0.004045
QNT 0.000019
QTUM 0.001540
ROL 49.909959
RON 0.004991
RPL 0.000715
RSD 0.111635
RUB 0.093337
RUNE 0.002605
RVN 0.426287
RWF 1.629538
SAND 0.026904
SAR 0.004167
SBD 0.008891
SCR 0.016120
SDD 66.694583
SDG 0.666946
SEK 0.010487
SGD 0.001413
SHIB 234.535324
SHP 0.000817
SIT 0.227975
SKK 0.028660
SLE 0.025462
SLL 25.462022
SNX 0.005421
SOL 0.000013
SOS 0.630238
SPL 0.000185
SRD 0.042012
SRG 42.012318
SSP 6.299779
STD 23.459432
STN 0.023459
STX 0.008519
SUI 0.001575
SVC 0.009724
SYP 14.446662
SZL 0.017892
THB 0.036488
THETA 0.007394
TJS 0.010193
TMM 19.443259
TMT 0.003889
TND 0.003221
TOP 0.002647
TRL 53,290.671322
TRX 0.003327
TRY 0.053291
TTD 0.007512
TUSD 0.001113
TVD 0.001563
TWD 0.035379
TWT 0.002779
TZS 2.941265
UAH 0.049633
UGX 4.128977
UNI 0.000303
USD 0.001111
USDC 0.001111
USDD 0.001112
USDP 0.001112
USDT 0.001112
UYU 0.044463
UZS 13.052295
VAL 1.842016
VEB 86,264,960.535007
VED 0.860717
VEF 86,071.748240
VES 0.860717
VET 0.228945
VND 29.029343
VUV 0.131441
WAVES 0.005635
WEMIX 0.005742
WOO 0.100745
WST 0.002993
XAF 0.624026
XAG 0.000017
XAU 0.000000
XAUT 0.000000
XBT 0.000000
XCD 0.003008
XCG 0.001991
XCH 0.000784
XDC 0.039950
XDR 0.000812
XEC 158.490165
XEM 2.373577
XLM 0.006470
XMR 0.000003
XOF 0.624026
XPD 0.000001
XPF 0.113523
XPT 0.000001
XRP 0.001001
XTZ 0.005101
YER 0.263451
ZAR 0.017892
ZEC 0.000002
ZIL 0.457170
ZMK 20.817468
ZMW 0.020817
ZWD 0.402171
ZWG 0.029638
ZWL 74.057345

No currencies match your search.

Cities in North Korea 245
Browse all cities and towns
Cheongjin Haeju Hamheung Hyesan Kaeseong Kanggye Kimchaek Najin Nampo Phyeongseong Pyeongyang Pyongyang Sariweon Seongnim Sineuiju Weonsan 갑산읍 강계시 강령읍 개천시 경성읍 경원읍 경흥읍 고산읍 고성읍 고원읍 고읍로동자구 고인로동자구 고풍읍 곡산읍 과일읍 곽산읍 광명로동자구 구봉로동자구 구성시 구장읍 금강읍 금골2동 금산포로동자구 금야읍 금천읍 금호읍 길주읍 김정숙읍 김책시 김형권읍 김형직읍 김화읍 남덕동 남양로동자구 남정로동자구 녕변읍 녕원읍 단천시 대관읍 대동읍 대홍단읍 대흥읍 덕성읍 덕천시 동림읍 동신읍 동창읍 득장로동자구 라남 라흥로동자구 락연로동자구 락원읍 랑림로동자구 랑림읍 래일로동자구 량강로동자구 려도동 록림로동자구 룡담로동자구 룡대로동자구 룡림읍 룡문로동자구 룡연로동자구 룡연읍 룡천읍 리원읍 린산읍 만포시 맹산읍 명간읍 명천읍 무산읍 문덕읍 문천시 박천읍 방현동 배천읍 백금산동 백암로동자구 백암읍 법동읍 벽동읍 벽성읍 보천읍 봉량로동자구 봉산읍 봉천읍 부래산로동자구 부령읍 부윤 부전읍 부포로동자구 북진로동자구 북창읍 북청읍 사리원시 삭주읍 삼수읍 삼지연시 삼천읍 삼탄동 삼포로동자구 상농로동자구 상원읍 서흥읍 선천읍 성간읍 성천읍 세포읍 송남로동자구 송림시 송원읍 송평로동자구 송화읍 수동로동자구 수안읍 숙천읍 순천시 승호읍 시중읍 신계읍 신단천 신도읍 신북청로동자구 신산로동자구 신안주 신양읍 신원로동자구 신원읍 신의주시 신창로동자구 신천읍 신평읍 신포시 신흥로동자구 신흥읍 안변읍 안악읍 안주시 앞강로동자구 양덕읍 어궁로동자구 어대진로동자구 어랑읍 연사읍 연산읍 연안읍 연탄읍 염주읍 영광읍 옥평동 온성읍 온천리 옹진로동자구 옹진읍 요덕읍 우시읍 운산읍 운양동 운전읍 운흥읍 원산시 위원읍 은률읍 은천읍 은파읍 의주읍 이천읍 인포로동자구 자성읍 장강읍 장상동 장연읍 장진읍 장촌로동자구 재령읍 전천읍 정주시 정평읍 제남동 종성로동자구 중강읍 중화읍 증산읍 차일로동자구 창도읍 창성읍 창평로동자구 천내읍 천마읍 천성로동자구 철산읍 철원읍 청단읍 청수로동자구 청진시 초산읍 태천읍 태탄읍 토산읍 통천읍 판교읍 평강읍 평산로동자구 평산읍 평성시 평원읍 풍서읍 풍인로동자구 피현읍 학방로동자구 함주읍 함흥시 해주시 향산읍 허천읍 혜산시 호하로동자구 홀동로동자구 홍원읍 화곡리 화대읍 화라로동자구 화평읍 황주읍 회령시 회양읍 회창읍 희천시

Visa Requirements

Check what visa a citizen of North Korea needs to enter any country.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the capital of North Korea?
The capital of North Korea is Pyongyang.
What currency does North Korea use?
North Korea uses the North Korean won (₩) as its official currency.
What language is spoken in North Korea?
The official language(s) of North Korea include Korean.
What is the population of North Korea?
North Korea has a population of approximately 25,950,000 people.
What region is North Korea in?
North Korea is located in Asia, specifically in the Eastern Asia subregion.
What is the international calling code for North Korea?
The international dialing code for North Korea is +850.
What time zones does North Korea observe?
North Korea observes the following time zone(s): UTC+09:00.
What is the current time in North Korea?
The local time in North Korea is currently --:--. This time applies to the primary time zone.
What is the total area of North Korea?
North Korea covers a total area of 120,538 km².
How many states or provinces does North Korea have?
North Korea is divided into 21 states or provinces.
What are the public holidays in North Korea in 2026?
You can view the complete list of public holidays for North Korea in 2026 on the Holidays 2026 page.
What are the visa requirements for citizens of North Korea?
Visa requirements for citizens of North Korea vary by destination. Use our Visa Requirements Checker below to look up requirements for any destination country.