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: 2026-05-19
⌕
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 0.012141
AAVE 0.000012
ADA 0.004419
AED 0.004081
AFN 0.069456
AKT 0.001378
ALGO 0.010348
ALL 0.091191
AMD 0.408934
AMP 1.328020
ANG 0.002002
AOA 1.020661
APE 0.007705
APT 0.001177
AR 0.000520
ARB 0.009507
ARS 1.551248
ATOM 0.000540
ATS 0.013134
AUD 0.001557
AVAX 0.000120
AWG 0.001989
AXS 0.000946
AZM 9.444687
AZN 0.001889
BAKE 1.502827
BAM 0.001867
BAT 0.011469
BBD 0.002222
BCH 0.000003
BDT 0.136541
BEF 0.038504
BGN 0.001867
BHD 0.000418
BIF 3.310154
BMD 0.001111
BNB 0.000002
BND 0.001422
BOB 0.007701
BRL 0.005567
BSD 0.001111
BSV 0.000074
BSW 1.298161
BTC 0.000000
BTG 0.002888
BTN 0.107101
BTT 3,453.666346
BUSD 0.001112
BWP 0.015106
BYN 0.003056
BYR 30.556106
BZD 0.002236
CAD 0.001528
CAKE 0.000786
CDF 2.550000
CELO 0.013808
CFX 0.018870
CHF 0.000873
CHZ 0.022599
CLP 1.001162
CNH 0.007560
CNY 0.007558
COMP 0.000050
COP 4.221358
CRC 0.503029
CRO 0.015900
CRV 0.004709
CSPR 0.376137
CUC 0.001111
CUP 0.026662
CVE 0.105251
CVX 0.000640
CYP 0.000559
CZK 0.023204
DAI 0.001112
DASH 0.000026
DCR 0.000066
DEM 0.001867
DFI 1.131536
DJF 0.197714
DKK 0.007133
DOGE 0.010653
DOP 0.065775
DOT 0.000890
DYDX 0.007682
DZD 0.147512
EEK 0.014934
EGLD 0.000283
EGP 0.059248
ENJ 0.025871
EOS 0.013736
ERN 0.016667
ESP 0.158812
ETB 0.174965
ETC 0.000125
ETH 0.000001
EUR 0.000954
EURC 0.000954
FEI 0.001115
FIL 0.001151
FIM 0.005675
FJD 0.002450
FKP 0.000828
FLOW 0.030793
FLR 0.133017
FRAX 0.001119
FRF 0.006261
FTT 0.003439
GALA 0.330468
GBP 0.000828
GEL 0.002968
GGP 0.000828
GHC 127.112964
GHS 0.012711
GIP 0.000828
GMD 0.082083
GMX 0.000168
GNF 9.746641
GNO 0.000009
GRD 0.325240
GRT 0.044179
GT 0.000157
GTQ 0.008471
GUSD 0.001114
GYD 0.232390
HBAR 0.012344
HKD 0.008702
HNL 0.029559
HNT 0.001349
HOT 2.800450
HRK 0.007192
HT 0.007662
HTG 0.145434
HUF 0.344181
ICP 0.000430
IDR 19.695006
IEP 0.000752
ILS 0.003225
IMP 0.000828
IMX 0.006527
INJ 0.000213
INR 0.107101
IQD 1.455877
IRR 1,464.654869
ISK 0.136872
ITL 1.848135
JEP 0.000828
JMD 0.175700
JOD 0.000788
JPY 0.176597
KAS 0.032153
KAVA 0.019293
KCS 0.000139
KDA 0.133581
KES 0.143690
KGS 0.097199
KHR 4.456425
KLAY 0.021362
KMF 0.469574
KNC 0.007739
KRW 1.672454
KSM 0.000223
KWD 0.000342
KYD 0.000924
KZT 0.521378
LAK 24.372197
LBP 99.610969
LDO 0.003120
LEO 0.000110
LINK 0.000115
LKR 0.370051
LRC 0.068561
LRD 0.203648
LSL 0.018500
LTC 0.000020
LTL 0.003296
LUF 0.038504
LUNA 0.017555
LUNC 14.136738
LVL 0.000671
LYD 0.007056
MAD 0.010226
MANA 0.012608
MBX 0.028376
MDL 0.019228
MGA 4.649373
MGF 23.246866
MINA 0.019451
MKD 0.058819
MKR 0.000001
MMK 2.332546
MNT 3.976731
MOP 0.008963
MRO 0.444259
MRU 0.044426
MTL 0.000410
MUR 0.052538
MVR 0.017161
MWK 1.933884
MXN 0.019228
MXV 0.002176
MYR 0.004416
MZM 70.968667
MZN 0.070969
NAD 0.018500
NEAR 0.000689
NEO 0.000384
NEXO 0.001249
NFT 3,928.632842
NGN 1.523437
NIO 0.040843
NLG 0.002103
NOK 0.010304
NPR 0.171442
NZD 0.001898
OKB 0.000014
OMR 0.000427
ONE 0.542074
OP 0.008655
ORDI 0.000267
PAB 0.001111
PAXG 0.000000
PEN 0.003803
PEPE 301.723966
PGK 0.004909
PHP 0.068569
PI 0.007320
PKR 0.309569
PLN 0.004049
POL 0.012224
PTE 0.191356
PYG 6.762862
QAR 0.004045
QNT 0.000015
QTUM 0.001231
ROL 49.723290
RON 0.004972
RPL 0.000640
RSD 0.112027
RUB 0.080529
RUNE 0.002483
RVN 0.201049
RWF 1.624606
SAND 0.015429
SAR 0.004167
SBD 0.008896
SCR 0.016312
SDD 66.693777
SDG 0.666938
SEK 0.010455
SGD 0.001422
SHIB 192.772059
SHP 0.000828
SIT 0.228732
SKK 0.028755
SLE 0.025450
SLL 25.450411
SNX 0.003587
SOL 0.000013
SOS 0.634943
SPL 0.000185
SRD 0.041362
SRG 41.361794
SSP 5.238591
STD 23.636901
STN 0.023637
STX 0.004651
SUI 0.001050
SVC 0.009722
SYP 0.122820
SZL 0.018500
THB 0.036246
THETA 0.005628
TJS 0.010343
TMM 19.484989
TMT 0.003897
TND 0.003227
TON 0.000552
TOP 0.002643
TRL 50,649.413313
TRX 0.003115
TRY 0.050649
TTD 0.007537
TUSD 0.001112
TVD 0.001557
TWD 0.035154
TWT 0.002325
TZS 2.891197
UAH 0.049047
UGX 4.187532
UNI 0.000315
USD 0.001111
USDC 0.001112
USDD 0.001112
USDP 0.001113
USDT 0.001112
UYU 0.044538
UZS 13.369210
VAL 1.848135
VEB 57,481,932.542825
VED 0.574794
VEF 57,479.368086
VES 0.574794
VET 0.164952
VND 29.256645
VUV 0.131929
WAVES 0.002923
WEMIX 0.004113
WOO 0.065794
WST 0.002995
XAF 0.626099
XAG 0.000015
XAU 0.000000
XAUT 0.000000
XBT 0.000000
XCD 0.003008
XCG 0.002002
XCH 0.000400
XDC 0.035744
XDR 0.000813
XEC 151.475958
XEM 1.669537
XLM 0.007569
XMR 0.000003
XOF 0.626099
XPD 0.000001
XPF 0.113900
XPT 0.000001
XRP 0.000804
XTZ 0.003250
YER 0.265139
ZAR 0.018500
ZEC 0.000002
ZIL 0.282619
ZMK 21.000454
ZMW 0.021000
ZWD 0.402120
ZWG 0.028790
ZWL 71.937675

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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.