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: 2026-10-05
⌕
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 0.010663
AAVE 0.000006
ADA 0.004172
AED 0.004086
AFN 0.071760
AKT 0.001405
ALGO 0.008497
ALL 0.090970
AMD 0.403081
AMP 1.758610
ANG 0.002003
AOA 1.020995
APE 0.006633
APT 0.001408
AR 0.000249
ARB 0.005535
ARS 1.704894
ATOM 0.000639
ATS 0.013691
AUD 0.001604
AVAX 0.000102
AWG 0.001992
AXS 0.000849
AZM 9.458076
AZN 0.001892
BAKE 4.633462
BAM 0.001946
BAT 0.010833
BBD 0.002225
BCH 0.000003
BDT 0.136829
BEF 0.040136
BGN 0.001946
BHD 0.000418
BIF 3.353553
BMD 0.001113
BNB 0.000001
BND 0.001426
BOB 0.013327
BRL 0.005809
BSD 0.001113
BSV 0.000056
BSW 2.678584
BTC 0.000000
BTCB 0.015700
BTG 0.001682
BTN 0.107312
BTT 2,971.337475
BUSD 0.001110
BWP 0.015368
BYN 0.003344
BYR 21.777770
BZD 0.002240
CAD 0.001589
CAKE 0.000445
CDF 2.571994
CELO 0.010581
CFX 0.020635
CHF 0.000924
CHZ 0.066575
CLP 1.090265
CNH 0.007467
CNY 0.007461
COMP 0.000044
COP 3.650083
CRC 0.509723
CRO 0.016297
CRV 0.002906
CSPR 0.431638
CUC 0.001111
CUP 0.026646
CVE 0.109712
CVX 0.000478
CYP 0.000582
CZK 0.024304
DAI 0.001111
DASH 0.000019
DCR 0.000060
DEM 0.001946
DFI 1.681889
DJF 0.198425
DKK 0.007436
DOGE 0.011678
DOP 0.066604
DOT 0.000917
DYDX 0.007687
DZD 0.148758
EEK 0.015568
EGLD 0.000249
EGP 0.058578
ENJ 0.033287
EOS 0.011539
ERN 0.016690
ESP 0.165545
ETB 0.181661
ETC 0.000124
ETH 0.000000
EUR 0.000995
EURC 0.000993
FEI 0.001111
FIL 0.001061
FIM 0.005916
FJD 0.002508
FKP 0.000842
FLOW 0.035187
FLR 0.154032
FRAX 0.001121
FRF 0.006526
FTT 0.004352
GALA 0.448684
GBP 0.000842
GEL 0.002888
GGP 0.000842
GHC 130.455308
GHS 0.013046
GIP 0.000842
GMD 0.082419
GMX 0.000133
GNF 9.793424
GNO 0.000009
GRD 0.339027
GRT 0.037176
GT 0.000100
GTQ 0.008503
GUSD 0.001113
GYD 0.232585
HBAR 0.010786
HKD 0.008731
HNL 0.029943
HNT 0.001937
HOT 2.485141
HRK 0.007496
HT 0.030812
HTG 0.145602
HUF 0.366858
ICP 0.000342
IDR 19.963332
IEP 0.000784
ILS 0.003396
IMP 0.000842
IMX 0.006124
INJ 0.000147
INR 0.107312
IQD 1.456786
IRR 1,940.598757
ISK 0.136493
ITL 1.926479
JEP 0.000842
JMD 0.176010
JOD 0.000789
JPY 0.175890
KAS 0.026056
KAVA 0.016154
KCS 0.000148
KDA 0.119743
KES 0.143306
KGS 0.097311
KHR 4.511232
KLAY 0.029507
KMF 0.489480
KNC 0.007906
KRW 1.498332
KSM 0.000216
KWD 0.000344
KYD 0.000923
KZT 0.499045
LAK 25.078739
LBP 99.749045
LDO 0.002386
LEO 0.000125
LINK 0.000079
LKR 0.367727
LRC 0.105745
LRD 0.191077
LSL 0.018620
LTC 0.000016
LTL 0.003435
LUF 0.040136
LUNA 0.021927
LUNC 21.156207
LVL 0.000699
LYD 0.007121
MAD 0.010970
MANA 0.010953
MBX 0.037389
MDL 0.019866
MGA 4.958531
MGF 24.792655
MINA 0.006950
MKD 0.060935
MKR 0.000001
MMK 2.335813
MNT 4.004821
MOP 0.008993
MRO 0.446863
MRU 0.044686
MTL 0.000427
MUR 0.053907
MVR 0.017202
MWK 1.928024
MXN 0.020283
MXV 0.002302
MYR 0.004549
MZM 71.026315
MZN 0.071026
NAD 0.018620
NEAR 0.000228
NEO 0.000437
NEXO 0.001294
NFT 4,629.154807
NGN 1.476682
NIO 0.040882
NLG 0.002193
NOK 0.010753
NPR 0.171780
NZD 0.001990
OKB 0.000009
OMR 0.000428
ONE 0.007611
OP 0.008495
ORDI 0.000247
PAB 0.001113
PAXG 0.000000
PEN 0.003850
PEPE 253.403442
PGK 0.004998
PHP 0.069813
PI 0.012810
PKR 0.308098
PLN 0.004366
POL 0.010249
PTE 0.199468
PYG 6.496495
QAR 0.004050
QNT 0.000004
QTUM 0.001133
ROL 53.172112
RON 0.005317
RPL 0.000583
RSD 0.116255
RUB 0.093311
RUNE 0.001424
RVN 0.466554
RWF 1.643632
SAND 0.015242
SAR 0.004173
SBD 0.008978
SCR 0.015865
SDD 66.789545
SDG 0.667895
SEK 0.011222
SGD 0.001426
SHIB 188.525627
SHP 0.000842
SIT 0.238428
SKK 0.029974
SLE 0.025642
SLL 25.642190
SNX 0.004425
SOL 0.000009
SOS 0.634102
SPL 0.000185
SRD 0.042078
SRG 42.077574
SSP 6.356378
STD 24.585147
STN 0.024585
STX 0.002820
SUI 0.000914
SVC 0.009736
SYP 14.446662
SZL 0.018620
THB 0.037485
THETA 0.004914
TJS 0.010245
TMM 19.472111
TMT 0.003894
TND 0.003327
TOP 0.002674
TRL 54,699.700020
TRX 0.003316
TRY 0.054700
TTD 0.007540
TUSD 0.001112
TVD 0.001604
TWD 0.035387
TWT 0.001959
TZS 2.928458
UAH 0.050040
UGX 4.438004
UNI 0.000124
USD 0.001113
USDC 0.001111
USDD 0.001112
USDP 0.001113
USDT 0.001111
UYU 0.044813
UZS 13.104301
VAL 1.926479
VEB 96,481,668.636077
VED 0.964817
VEF 96,481.668636
VES 0.964817
VET 0.128010
VND 28.945580
VUV 0.134011
WAVES 0.003698
WEMIX 0.005696
WOO 0.082501
WST 0.003087
XAF 0.652640
XAG 0.000018
XAU 0.000000
XAUT 0.000000
XBT 0.000000
XCD 0.003011
XCG 0.002003
XCH 0.000707
XDC 0.033821
XDR 0.000822
XEC 136.965944
XEM 1.946095
XLM 0.004994
XMR 0.000002
XOF 0.652640
XPD 0.000001
XPF 0.118728
XPT 0.000001
XRP 0.000739
XTZ 0.003388
YER 0.263033
ZAR 0.018620
ZEC 0.000001
ZIL 0.310509
ZMK 21.852597
ZMW 0.021853
ZWD 0.402685
ZWG 0.029783
ZWL 74.419078

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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.