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: 2026-07-06
⌕
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 0.015499
AAVE 0.000013
ADA 0.005918
AED 0.004080
AFN 0.070636
AGIX 0.014240
AKT 0.001771
ALGO 0.012411
ALL 0.091071
AMD 0.408816
AMP 2.490810
ANG 0.002004
AOA 1.020339
APE 0.007925
APT 0.001776
AR 0.000557
ARB 0.013890
ARS 1.658244
ATOM 0.000703
ATS 0.013372
AUD 0.001604
AVAX 0.000161
AWG 0.001989
AXS 0.001100
AZM 9.443527
AZN 0.001889
BAKE 1.478585
BAM 0.001901
BAT 0.012615
BBD 0.002222
BCH 0.000005
BDT 0.136957
BEF 0.039202
BGN 0.001901
BHD 0.000418
BIF 3.307465
BMD 0.001111
BNB 0.000002
BND 0.001436
BOB 0.007696
BRL 0.005742
BSD 0.001111
BSV 0.000075
BSW 3.319452
BTC 0.000000
BTCB 0.020965
BTG 0.003850
BTN 0.105851
BTT 4,189.129371
BUSD 0.001110
BWP 0.014995
BYN 0.003226
BYR 21.777769
BZD 0.002238
CAD 0.001579
CAKE 0.000767
CDF 2.563355
CELO 0.016537
CFX 0.024833
CHF 0.000894
CHZ 0.061540
CLP 1.023456
CNH 0.007545
CNY 0.007542
COMP 0.000066
COP 3.713562
CRC 0.506269
CRO 0.018587
CRV 0.005197
CSPR 0.572056
CUC 0.001111
CUP 0.029444
CVE 0.107158
CVX 0.000924
CYP 0.000569
CZK 0.023504
DAI 0.001112
DASH 0.000032
DCR 0.000100
DEM 0.001901
DFI 1.337250
DJF 0.197862
DKK 0.007264
DOGE 0.014377
DOP 0.065845
DOT 0.001274
DYDX 0.008413
DZD 0.147757
EEK 0.015205
EGLD 0.000402
EGP 0.054575
ENJ 0.038389
EOS 0.015339
ERN 0.016665
ESP 0.161691
ETB 0.177711
ETC 0.000156
ETH 0.000001
EUR 0.000972
EURC 0.000972
FEI 0.001111
FIL 0.001407
FIM 0.005778
FJD 0.002495
FKP 0.000833
FLOW 0.039644
FLR 0.159836
FRAX 0.001123
FRF 0.006374
FTT 0.004664
GALA 0.484960
GBP 0.000833
GEL 0.002918
GGP 0.000833
GHC 126.220838
GHS 0.012622
GIP 0.000833
GMD 0.081930
GMX 0.000187
GNF 9.740765
GNO 0.000011
GRD 0.331134
GRT 0.058559
GT 0.000164
GTQ 0.008480
GUSD 0.001112
GYD 0.232550
HBAR 0.014713
HKD 0.008714
HNL 0.029744
HNT 0.004636
HOT 3.078749
HRK 0.007322
HT 0.031009
HTG 0.145424
HUF 0.343625
ICP 0.000504
IDR 19.989725
IEP 0.000765
ILS 0.003337
IMP 0.000833
IMX 0.008041
INJ 0.000227
INR 0.105851
IQD 1.456741
IRR 1,528.832738
ISK 0.139938
ITL 1.881629
JEP 0.000833
JMD 0.176008
JOD 0.000788
JPY 0.179816
KAS 0.036218
KAVA 0.024624
KCS 0.000154
KDA 0.190617
KES 0.143643
KGS 0.097173
KHR 4.454936
KMF 0.478085
KNC 0.009967
KRW 1.703012
KSM 0.000315
KWD 0.000345
KYD 0.000924
KZT 0.525219
LAK 25.118726
LBP 99.771893
LDO 0.004113
LEO 0.000119
LINK 0.000139
LKR 0.372070
LRC 0.090424
LRD 0.201785
LSL 0.018058
LTC 0.000025
LTL 0.003355
LUF 0.039202
LUNA 0.022623
LUNC 18.095941
LVL 0.000683
LYD 0.007126
MAD 0.010403
MANA 0.015967
MBX 0.044176
MDL 0.019555
MGA 4.714573
MGF 23.572865
MINA 0.023435
MKD 0.059863
MKR 0.000001
MMK 2.332359
MNT 3.981990
MOP 0.008975
MRO 0.443702
MRU 0.044370
MTL 0.000417
MUR 0.052225
MVR 0.017175
MWK 1.927187
MXN 0.019420
MXV 0.002202
MYR 0.004530
MZM 70.955900
MZN 0.070956
NAD 0.018058
NEAR 0.000558
NEO 0.000562
NEXO 0.001444
NFT 4,192.144868
NGN 1.522385
NIO 0.040897
NLG 0.002142
NOK 0.010928
NPR 0.169440
NZD 0.001953
OKB 0.000014
OMR 0.000428
ONE 0.888860
OP 0.010334
ORDI 0.000342
PAB 0.001111
PAXG 0.000000
PEN 0.003783
PEPE 407.325422
PGK 0.004888
PHP 0.068341
PI 0.009821
PKR 0.309092
PLN 0.004172
POL 0.015107
PTE 0.194824
PYG 6.757819
QAR 0.004044
QNT 0.000017
QTUM 0.001563
ROL 50.785332
RON 0.005079
RPL 0.000549
RSD 0.113982
RUB 0.085611
RUNE 0.002686
RVN 0.291517
RWF 1.628588
SAND 0.022268
SAR 0.004166
SBD 0.008990
SCR 0.015876
SDD 66.687445
SDG 0.666874
SEK 0.010724
SGD 0.001436
SHIB 253.753320
SHP 0.000833
SIT 0.232877
SKK 0.029276
SLE 0.025375
SLL 25.375261
SNX 0.004852
SOL 0.000014
SOS 0.634428
SPL 0.000185
SRD 0.041823
SRG 41.823297
SSP 5.276362
STD 23.985289
STN 0.023985
STX 0.006497
SUI 0.001487
SVC 0.009721
SYP 0.122813
SZL 0.018058
THB 0.036930
THETA 0.007920
TJS 0.010298
TMM 19.493611
TMT 0.003899
TND 0.003275
TOP 0.002676
TRL 52,012.118284
TRX 0.003383
TRY 0.052012
TTD 0.007528
TUSD 0.001113
TVD 0.001604
TWD 0.035652
TWT 0.003232
TZS 2.919282
UAH 0.049513
UGX 4.060179
UNI 0.000352
USD 0.001111
USDC 0.001111
USDD 0.001112
USDP 0.001114
USDT 0.001112
UYU 0.044717
UZS 13.296263
VAL 1.881629
VEB 71,597,336.922539
VED 0.715910
VEF 71,590.962629
VES 0.715910
VET 0.235509
VND 29.219622
VUV 0.133534
WAVES 0.004181
WEMIX 0.004291
WOO 0.093830
WST 0.003073
XAF 0.637446
XAG 0.000018
XAU 0.000000
XAUT 0.000000
XBT 0.000000
XCD 0.003007
XCG 0.002004
XCH 0.000705
XDC 0.039540
XDR 0.000819
XEC 209.153318
XEM 2.595245
XLM 0.005565
XMR 0.000003
XOF 0.637446
XPD 0.000001
XPF 0.115964
XPT 0.000001
XRP 0.000971
XTZ 0.004465
YER 0.263301
ZAR 0.018058
ZEC 0.000002
ZIL 0.360154
ZMK 20.386144
ZMW 0.020386
ZWD 0.402072
ZWG 0.029801
ZWL 74.464693

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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.