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Update April 12, 2024

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North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) Travel Advisory

Travel advisory july 24, 2023, north korea - level 4: do not travel.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.

Do not travel to North Korea due to the continuing serious risk of arrest and long-term detention of U.S. nationals. Exercise increased caution to North Korea due to the critical threat of wrongful detention.

All U.S. passports are invalid for travel to, in, or through the DPRK unless specially validated for such travel under the authority of the Secretary of State.
Special validations are granted only in very limited circumstances. More information on how to apply for the special validation is available here .

The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in North Korea as it does not have diplomatic or consular relations with North Korea. Sweden serves as the protecting power for the United States in North Korea, providing limited emergency services. The North Korean government routinely delays or denies Swedish officials access to detained U.S. citizens.

Due to risks to civil aviation operating within or in the vicinity of North Korea, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) and/or a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR). For more information U.S. citizens should consult the Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices .

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to North Korea.

If you receive a special validation to travel to North Korea:

Draft a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney.
Discuss a plan with loved ones regarding care/custody of children, pets, property, belongings, non-liquid assets (collections, artwork, etc.), funeral wishes, etc.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas .
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program ( STEP ) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter .
Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist .

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Americans Can't Visit North Korea. Some Who Have Family There Hope Biden Changes That

Anthony Kuhn

North Korean Kang Ho-Rye (second from left), 89, hugs her South Korean relative at a resort at Mount Kumgang, North Korea, in August 2018. Almost 100 South Koreans crossed the armed border to the North to meet their separated families. The U.S. bars citizens from entering North Korea, but some Korean Americans hope the Biden administration will lift the ban and let them visit again. Lee Su-Kil/Pool/Getty Images hide caption

SEOUL — The Biden administration has to decide by the end of the month whether to renew a ban on U.S. citizens traveling to North Korea, and Americans with relatives in North Korea are eagerly awaiting the decision.

They include Kate Shim, who immigrated to the United States from South Korea in the 1970s. After the Korean War, her uncle was missing and her family believed he was in North Korea.

Shim says her great-grandmother told her father: "You need to find your brother because I know he's alive."

Shim's brother managed to track down their missing uncle in North Korea in the 1980s, finally reuniting him with his mother after more than 30 years.

In 1989, Shim started visiting relatives in North Korea, too.

"They were alive, and I was so happy to see my cousins," says Shim, 62. "We didn't care about, like, what politics, what kind of government we are under. We're just happy to see them."

In the 1940s and 50s, the division of Korea into two countries and the Korean War left as many as 10 million Koreans separated from their families. U.S. officials estimated in 2001 that the figure included 100,000 Korean Americans, but the number has dwindled as their communities age.

For many of the remaining members of that divided generation, time is running out to reunite with their relatives separated by geography and clashing governments.

Travel was banned after Otto Warmbier

In this Feb. 29, 2016, photo, American student Otto Warmbier cries while speaking in Pyongyang, North Korea. Warmbier died in June 2017 days after being released from detention in North Korea in a coma. Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP hide caption

The U.S. has barred the use of an American passport to enter North Korea since 2017, making limited, one-time exceptions for some citizens such as aid workers and journalists.

101 Ways To Thwart A Reporter In Pyongyang

The Trump administration enacted the ban following the June 2017 death of American college student Otto Warmbier after his release from detention in Pyongyang.

The Two-Way

Otto warmbier's parents sue north korea, alleging torture of their son.

North Korean authorities arrested Warmbier in January 2016 and sentenced him to 15 years of hard labor for taking a propaganda poster in a hotel in Pyongyang. After being in custody for more than a year, the 22-year-old was flown home in a coma and died shortly after. North Korea has denied accusations of torture.

Last year, when Biden was a candidate, he said in an op-ed that as president he would work "to reunite Korean Americans separated from loved ones in North Korea for decades."

The administration has not commented on what it will do about the travel policy.

In a statement to NPR, the State Department said it renewed the restriction in September 2020 "due to continuing concerns over the serious risk of arrest and long-term detention in North Korea." The ban will expire on Sept. 1 unless the secretary of state extends or revokes it.

(The government's travel advisory also says not to visit North Korea now because of COVID-19 .)

Detention risk or dialogue opportunity

Some experts on North Korea believe the threat of detention remains, and so should the restriction.

North Korea Says Detained American Had Intended To 'Subvert The Country'

"At this moment, there's no reason to get rid of the travel ban," argues Anthony Ruggiero, a former National Security Council director for North Korea. He says Pyongyang has not abandoned its practice of detaining Americans as it hopes to secure political leverage over Washington.

Former President Bill Clinton claps as former Vice President Al Gore hugs Laura Ling and Euna Lee smiles with joy. Clinton and the two California journalists whose freedom he helped secure from prison in North Korea arrived at what's now called Hollywood Burbank Airport on Aug. 5, 2009. Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images hide caption

Some previous detentions have required former presidents, including Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton , to travel to North Korea to secure their release and bring them home.

The ban should only be lifted "when North Korea is more of a normal country, that doesn't kidnap people," says Ruggiero, now a senior fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, a research group in Washington that has advocated for a hard line against North Korea.

Ruggiero doesn't think allowing people-to-people exchanges will help persuade the government of Kim Jong Un to give up its nuclear weapons and missiles programs.

Other observers argue that reopening travel could be a start.

"The U.S. is saying we want the North Koreans to come to the table," notes Daniel Jasper, the Asia public education and advocacy coordinator at the American Friends Service Committee, a Philadelphia-based peace advocacy group. "In order to do that," he says, "we have to get back to baseline level of engagement, or North Koreans will continue to understand that to mean that the U.S. is not really sincere in their attempts to engage."

Jasper attended a meeting recently where several civic groups tried to persuade administration officials to lift the ban.

The White House has said it's taking a " calibrated practical approach " toward potential diplomacy with North Korea. This week, Biden's envoy for North Korea, Sung Kim, said he discussed with South Korean officials possible ways to address humanitarian cooperation with North Korea.

Meanwhile, advocates and lawmakers have pushed for help reuniting divided Korean families. A bill is now before the Senate that would require U.S. officials to consult with Korean Americans on progress on these efforts.

North Koreans on a bus hold hands of their South Korean relatives to bid farewell after the separated family reunion meeting at the Mount Kumgang resort on Aug. 26, 2018, in Mount Kumgang, North Korea. Lee Su-Kil/Pool/Getty Images hide caption

Opening up helps to seek closure

Although official visitor figures for North Korea are hard to find, one tour operator estimated as many as 1,000 Americans went annually, according to news reports before the ban took effect.

One of the lucky ones who made it was Choon Lim. He was born in Nampo, North Korea, and fled to South Korea during the war. He later settled in Chicago.

In 1998, he visited North Korea hoping to find his father, but discovered he had died six years before.

When it came time for Lim to pour an offering of liquor before his father's ashes, he froze for an instant, that felt like an eternity.

"All those 47 years, what I have experienced, how I lived, how we lived in the South, all those things came down through my head. And I collapsed. I couldn't do it," remembers Lim, who is 75.

Lim later returned to North Korea several times with other Korean American families.

"I worked for helping separated family members visiting North Korea," he says, "because every one of the separated families should have the same kind of a closure that I had."

Waiting for a peaceful resolution

Ed Kang is also in favor of ending the travel ban. Born in 1934, he grew up in a Christian family in Pyongyang. He fled to avoid persecution under the communist regime, walking with his father the roughly 120 miles to Seoul in the winter of 1950.

"Many times, I was almost killed, but I survived," Kang recalls. "I saw the hand of God, protecting me and guiding me." Kang became a Presbyterian minister in the U.S., and returned to North Korea several times to visit his mother and younger brother, after being separated for more than 30 years.

He says the travel ban is causing unnecessary suffering, and removing it would be "making a contribution to a kind of peaceful resolution between the U.S. and North Korea."

Even if the ban is lifted, though, North Korea remains closed to the outside world, due to the pandemic. It has stopped answering hotline connecting it with South Korea, and says it is "not even considering " negotiations with the U.S.

Se Eun Gong contributed to this story from Seoul and Michele Kelemen from Washington, D.C.

North Korea diplomacy
otto warmbier
korean american
North Korea

US State Department renews travel ban to North Korea amid rising tensions

The ban makes it illegal to use a u.s. passport for travel to, from or through north korea, unless it has been specifically validated in the case of a compelling national interest, by matthew lee | associated press • published august 22, 2023.

The Biden administration is extending for another year a ban on the use of U.S. passports for travel to North Korea, the State Department said Tuesday. The ban was imposed in 2017 and has been renewed every year since.

The latest extension comes as tensions with North Korea are rising over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and the uncertain status of Travis King, a U.S. service member who last month entered the country through its heavily armed border.

“The Department of State has determined there continues to be serious risk to U.S. citizens and nationals of arrest and long-term detention constituting imminent danger to their physical safety,” the department said in a notice to be published in the Federal Register on Wednesday that was signed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

North Korea confirms detention of US soldier and says he's seeking refuge ‘from mistreatment' in US Army

Missiles aren't the only threat from North Korea. Its conventional arms are just as deadly

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The ban makes it illegal to use a U.S. passport for travel to, from or through North Korea, unless it has been specifically validated in the case of a compelling national interest. It will remain in place until Aug. 31, 2024, unless it is extended or rescinded.

The ban was first imposed during the Trump administration by former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in 2017 after the death of American student Otto Warmbier, who suffered grievous injuries while in North Korean custody.

Warmbier was part of a group tour of North Korea and was leaving the country in January 2016 when he was arrested for allegedly stealing a propaganda poster. He was later convicted of subversion and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Warmbier died in a Cincinnati hospital six days after his return to the U.S.

Humanitarian groups have expressed concern about the impact the initial ban and its extensions have had on providing relief to isolated North Korea, which is one of the world’s neediest countries.

There is no indication that King used a U.S. passport to enter North Korea when he crossed the border in July. The U.S. is seeking his return but has had limited success in querying North Korean officials about his case.

Last week, North Korea offered its first official confirmation of King's presence in the country, releasing a statement on Aug. 16 through its state media attributing statements to the Army private that criticized the United States.

There was no immediate verification that King actually made any of the comments. He had served in South Korea and sprinted into North Korea while on a civilian tour of a border village on July 18, and became the first American confirmed to be detained in the North in nearly five years.

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Passports, travel and living abroad
Travel abroad
Foreign travel advice

North Korea

Safety and security.

There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. You should remain vigilant at all times.

UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad .

Terrorism in North Korea

Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in North Korea, attacks cannot be ruled out.

Political situation

The level of tension on the Korean peninsula has remained high since 2017 when North Korea began a series of nuclear and missile tests. A halt in nuclear testing and ballistic missile tests, announced in April 2018, came to an end in May 2019, when the North and South Korean governments temporarily restored direct contact. North Korea and the United States also restored contact at this time.

North Korea resumed missile tests in 2019, after the breakdown of the Hanoi Summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un. North Korea has tested ballistic missiles frequently since 2019.

In the past, similar periods of diplomatic engagement have not lasted. This has led to further missile or nuclear tests and a return to instability in the region. Tensions usually rise around the time of South Korean-US military exercises, often held in the spring and autumn.

Crime against foreigners in North Korea is rare. Take sensible precautions to protect your belongings.

Fire safety

Levels of fire safety awareness may be low. You may wish to check hotel fire procedures or consult your tour operator.

Laws and cultural differences

Insults or jokes about the North Korean political system and its leadership are severely frowned upon. Foreigners have sometimes found themselves in trouble for not paying what was deemed to be a sufficient level of respect, including not treating images of the leader with care.

In recent years, the North Korean authorities have arrested some visitors on various or unspecified grounds, including 4 US citizens and 1 Canadian. Some have faced public trials.

In 2016 a US national was sentenced to 15 years hard labour after a conviction for crimes against the state. He was found to have attempted to steal a political banner from the staff quarters of a tourist hotel. When he was released in 2017, he was in a coma and died soon after his return to the US.

Public offences

Offences that would be considered trivial in other countries can incur very severe penalties in North Korea, particularly actions the authorities deem to be disrespectful towards the North Korean leadership or government.

Using cameras and binoculars

Ask permission before taking photographs. Avoid taking photographs of North Korean officials or guarded buildings.

LGBT+ travellers

Although there’s no specific legislation outlawing same sex relationships in North Korea, these are considered unacceptable by the authorities.

Travel outside Pyongyang

Foreigners living in Pyongyang are usually able to travel within the city, but will often require permission for travel outside Pyongyang.

Travel for visitors within North Korea is severely restricted. Whether you are visiting on business or as a tourist, a guide will almost always accompany you. The guide will decide where you can go. It is your guide’s responsibility to get permission to travel outside Pyongyang. Military checkpoints at the entry and exit to all towns usually include ID checks.

In 2008 guards shot and killed a South Korean tourist who strayed into a restricted military area. Remain in permitted areas and move away immediately if asked to do so by North Korean officials.

Transport risks

Road travel.

You can get taxis from hotels or outside department stores, but they will be reluctant to take you without a local guide or interpreter. Foreigners are not generally allowed on public transport.

International driving permits are not valid in North Korea. Foreigners living in North Korea must get a local driving licence by passing a local driving test. You should take extra care when driving, as roads are often of poor quality with frequent hazards, and pedestrian road safety awareness is low.

See more information on driving abroad .

Most travellers enter North Korea on direct flights from Beijing to Pyongyang operated by the North Korean national airline Air Koryo or Air China.

The UK Air Safety List (ASL) has banned Air Koryo from operating commercial air services to the UK, with the exception of 2 Tupolev Tu204 aircraft. The Department for Transport maintains the list, based on advice from the UK Civil Aviation Authority .

Incidents reported in July 2016 and May 2017 involving Air Koryo flights highlight the lack of official information about Air Koryo’s safety record and standards.

Extreme weather and natural disasters

Flooding is common in the rainy season (July to August). This can disrupt travel especially to rural areas. Check that routes are passable before setting out on long journeys.

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COVID-19: travel health notice for all travellers

North Korea travel advice

Latest updates: Health – editorial update

Last updated: March 13, 2024 15:06 ET

Safety information

Canadian (and Swedish) authorities may encounter major difficulties and delays in obtaining consular access to you if you are detained, particularly outside of Pyongyang. The provision of consular access is solely at the discretion of the North Korean government. Knowledge of North Korean police and judicial systems is limited, which may further affect our ability to provide assistance to you.

Tourist facilities are minimal and telecommunications are unreliable. Individual tourism can be arranged only through a handful of North Korean government-approved travel agencies. Travel must be authorized in advance by the government. Travellers are closely observed, and their accommodations and telecommunications are monitored.

There are serious shortages of food, electricity and clean water.

You have no right to privacy. Your movements and communications may be under surveillance at any time. Your personal belongings may be searched, and authorities may review the contents stored on your electronic devices.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula can escalate with little notice. They may increase before, during and after North Korean nuclear and missile tests, military exercises and incidents such as inter-Korean border skirmishes or other incidents that one or the other side finds offensive. Due to very limited access to international media broadcasts in North Korea, you may be taken by surprise by events that could affect your security.

The crime rate is low. Petty crime occurs, especially at the Pyongyang Sunan International Airport. Ensure that your personal belongings, including your passport and other travel documents, are secure at all times.

Road safety

Travel within North Korea is severely restricted. Transportation is usually provided by local tour representatives or authorities. Major highways are in good condition, while rural roads can be hazardous. Police checkpoints, usually located at the entry to towns, may require that travellers provide documentation before onward travel is permitted.

We do not make assessments on the compliance of foreign domestic airlines with international safety standards.

Information about foreign domestic airlines

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from the North Korean authorities. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the Foreign Representatives in Canada .

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you use for travel.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules.

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid at least 6 months beyond the date you expect to leave North Korea.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Useful links

Foreign Representatives in Canada
Canadian passports

Canadians must have a visa to enter North Korea. You can obtain a visa from a North Korean mission in a third country after approval from the government in Pyongyang. The process for obtaining visas can be extremely slow and arduous.

Canadians arriving without a valid Canadian passport and visa may be detained, arrested, fined or denied entry.

Professional journalists must apply for special permission to visit North Korea and may not enter the country on a tourist visa, even if they are travelling for personal reasons.

Tourist visa: required Business visa: required Student visa: required

Other entry information

Foreigners can enter North Korea either by air or by train. It is not possible to enter North Korea from South Korea or to enter South Korea from North Korea.

Even if you meet all entry requirements, you may be arbitrarily arrested and/or detained at your point of entry.

Dual citizenship

If you are a Korean citizen or have family ties with North Korea, you should carefully consider your decision to visit. Authorities periodically subject dual citizens and children of former Koreans to certain laws and obligations.

Canadians who also have South Korean citizenship must obtain approval from South Korean authorities for travel to North Korea. For more information, contact the Embassy of Canada to the Republic of Korea in Seoul, South Korea.

Unauthorized points of entry

Foreigners have been detained, and in one instance shot, for entering the country at unauthorized points. Ensure that you stay within permitted zones and strictly follow North Korea’s procedures and protocols.

Children and travel

Learn more about travelling with children .

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).

Relevant Travel Health Notices

Global Measles Notice - 13 March, 2024
COVID-19 and International Travel - 13 March, 2024

This section contains information on possible health risks and restrictions regularly found or ongoing in the destination. Follow this advice to lower your risk of becoming ill while travelling. Not all risks are listed below.

Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic preferably 6 weeks before you travel to get personalized health advice and recommendations.

Routine vaccines

Be sure that your routine vaccinations , as per your province or territory , are up-to-date before travelling, regardless of your destination.

Some of these vaccinations include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others.

Pre-travel vaccines and medications

You may be at risk for preventable diseases while travelling in this destination. Talk to a travel health professional about which medications or vaccines may be right for you, based on your destination and itinerary.

Yellow fever is a disease caused by a flavivirus from the bite of an infected mosquito.

Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection.

There is no risk of yellow fever in this country.

Country Entry Requirement*

Proof of vaccination is required if you are coming from a country where yellow fever occurs.

Recommendation

Vaccination is not recommended.
Discuss travel plans, activities, and destinations with a health care professional.
Contact a designated Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre well in advance of your trip to arrange for vaccination.

About Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre

* It is important to note that country entry requirements may not reflect your risk of yellow fever at your destination. It is recommended that you contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the destination(s) you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements.

There is a risk of hepatitis A in this destination. It is a disease of the liver. People can get hepatitis A if they ingest contaminated food or water, eat foods prepared by an infectious person, or if they have close physical contact (such as oral-anal sex) with an infectious person, although casual contact among people does not spread the virus.

Practise safe food and water precautions and wash your hands often. Vaccination is recommended for all travellers to areas where hepatitis A is present.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It can spread quickly from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of being infected with it when travelling internationally.

Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are fully protected against measles.

Japanese encephalitis is a viral infection that can cause swelling of the brain. It is spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Risk is very low for most travellers. Travellers at relatively higher risk may want to consider vaccination for JE prior to travelling.

Travellers are at higher risk if they will be:

travelling long term (e.g. more than 30 days)
making multiple trips to endemic areas
staying for extended periods in rural areas
visiting an area suffering a JE outbreak
engaging in activities involving high contact with mosquitos (e.g., entomologists)

Hepatitis B is a risk in every destination. It is a viral liver disease that is easily transmitted from one person to another through exposure to blood and body fluids containing the hepatitis B virus. Travellers who may be exposed to blood or other bodily fluids (e.g., through sexual contact, medical treatment, sharing needles, tattooing, acupuncture or occupational exposure) are at higher risk of getting hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all travellers. Prevent hepatitis B infection by practicing safe sex, only using new and sterile drug equipment, and only getting tattoos and piercings in settings that follow public health regulations and standards.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious viral disease. It can spread from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

It is recommended that all eligible travellers complete a COVID-19 vaccine series along with any additional recommended doses in Canada before travelling. Evidence shows that vaccines are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. While vaccination provides better protection against serious illness, you may still be at risk of infection from the virus that causes COVID-19. Anyone who has not completed a vaccine series is at increased risk of being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and is at greater risk for severe disease when travelling internationally.

Before travelling, verify your destination’s COVID-19 vaccination entry/exit requirements. Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are adequately protected against COVID-19.

The best way to protect yourself from seasonal influenza (flu) is to get vaccinated every year. Get the flu shot at least 2 weeks before travelling.

The flu occurs worldwide.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs from November to April.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs between April and October.
In the tropics, there is flu activity year round.

The flu vaccine available in one hemisphere may only offer partial protection against the flu in the other hemisphere.

The flu virus spreads from person to person when they cough or sneeze or by touching objects and surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus. Clean your hands often and wear a mask if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms.

Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease that is caused by parasites spread through the bites of mosquitoes. Limited malaria transmission may occur in this destination, but risk to travellers is very low. Antimalarial medication is not recommended for most travellers. Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic before travelling to discuss your options. It is recommended to do this 6 weeks before travel, however, it is still a good idea any time before leaving. Protect yourself from mosquito bites at all times:

Cover your skin and use an approved insect repellent on uncovered skin.
Exclude mosquitoes from your living area with screening and/or closed, well-sealed doors and windows.
Use insecticide-treated bed nets if mosquitoes cannot be excluded from your living area.
Wear permethrin-treated clothing.

If you develop symptoms similar to malaria when you are travelling or up to a year after you return home, see a health care professional immediately. Tell them where you have been travelling or living.

In this destination, rabies is commonly carried by dogs and some wildlife, including bats. Rabies is a deadly disease that spreads to humans primarily through bites or scratches from an infected animal. While travelling, take precautions , including keeping your distance from animals (including free-roaming dogs), and closely supervising children.

If you are bitten or scratched by a dog or other animal while travelling, immediately wash the wound with soap and clean water and see a health care professional. In this destination, rabies treatment may be limited or may not be available, therefore you may need to return to Canada for treatment.

Before travel, discuss rabies vaccination with a health care professional. It may be recommended for travellers who are at high risk of exposure (e.g., occupational risk such as veterinarians and wildlife workers, children, adventure travellers and spelunkers, and others in close contact with animals).

Safe food and water precautions

Many illnesses can be caused by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated by bacteria, parasites, toxins, or viruses, or by swimming or bathing in contaminated water.

Learn more about food and water precautions to take to avoid getting sick by visiting our eat and drink safely abroad page. Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
Avoid getting water into your eyes, mouth or nose when swimming or participating in activities in freshwater (streams, canals, lakes), particularly after flooding or heavy rain. Water may look clean but could still be polluted or contaminated.
Avoid inhaling or swallowing water while bathing, showering, or swimming in pools or hot tubs.

Travellers' diarrhea is the most common illness affecting travellers. It is spread from eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

Risk of developing travellers' diarrhea increases when travelling in regions with poor standards of hygiene and sanitation. Practise safe food and water precautions.

The most important treatment for travellers' diarrhea is rehydration (drinking lots of fluids). Carry oral rehydration salts when travelling.

Typhoid is a bacterial infection spread by contaminated food or water. Risk is higher among children, travellers going to rural areas, travellers visiting friends and relatives or those travelling for a long period of time.

Travellers visiting regions with a risk of typhoid, especially those exposed to places with poor sanitation, should speak to a health care professional about vaccination.

Insect bite prevention

Many diseases are spread by the bites of infected insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas or flies. When travelling to areas where infected insects may be present:

Use insect repellent (bug spray) on exposed skin
Cover up with light-coloured, loose clothes made of tightly woven materials such as nylon or polyester
Minimize exposure to insects
Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in buildings that are not fully enclosed

To learn more about how you can reduce your risk of infection and disease caused by bites, both at home and abroad, visit our insect bite prevention page.

Find out what types of insects are present where you’re travelling, when they’re most active, and the symptoms of the diseases they spread.

In this country, risk of dengue is sporadic. It is a viral disease spread to humans by mosquito bites.
Dengue can cause flu-like symptoms. In some cases, it can lead to severe dengue, which can be fatal.
The level of risk of dengue changes seasonally, and varies from year to year. The level of risk also varies between regions in a country and can depend on the elevation in the region.
Mosquitoes carrying dengue typically bite during the daytime, particularly around sunrise and sunset.
Protect yourself from mosquito bites . There is no vaccine or medication that protects against dengue fever.

Animal precautions

Some infections, such as rabies and influenza, can be shared between humans and animals. Certain types of activities may increase your chance of contact with animals, such as travelling in rural or forested areas, camping, hiking, and visiting wet markets (places where live animals are slaughtered and sold) or caves.

Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, livestock (pigs, cows), monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats, and to avoid eating undercooked wild game.

Closely supervise children, as they are more likely to come in contact with animals.

Person-to-person infections

Stay home if you’re sick and practise proper cough and sneeze etiquette , which includes coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand. Reduce your risk of colds, the flu and other illnesses by:

washing your hands often
avoiding or limiting the amount of time spent in closed spaces, crowded places, or at large-scale events (concerts, sporting events, rallies)
avoiding close physical contact with people who may be showing symptoms of illness

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) , HIV , and mpox are spread through blood and bodily fluids; use condoms, practise safe sex, and limit your number of sexual partners. Check with your local public health authority pre-travel to determine your eligibility for mpox vaccine.

Tuberculosis is an infection caused by bacteria and usually affects the lungs.

For most travellers the risk of tuberculosis is low.

Travellers who may be at high risk while travelling in regions with risk of tuberculosis should discuss pre- and post-travel options with a health care professional.

High-risk travellers include those visiting or working in prisons, refugee camps, homeless shelters, or hospitals, or travellers visiting friends and relatives.

Medical services and facilities

The level of medical services and facilities is poor. Hospitals often lack heat and medicine, and suffer from frequent power outages. Immediate payment in cash is expected for treatment. Pyongyang Friendship Hospital, in the Munsu-dong district of Pyongyang, is staffed by English-speaking professionals. If possible, avoid undergoing surgery. Medical evacuations are very difficult to arrange and are not guaranteed. You should take this into account prior to travel if you have an unstable medical condition. If you show symptoms of a serious communicable disease, you may be subject to strict quarantine conditions.

Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Travel health and safety

Keep in Mind...

The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety.

Be prepared. Do not expect medical services to be the same as in Canada. Pack a travel health kit , especially if you will be travelling away from major city centres.

You must abide by local laws.

Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad .

North Korea is under international and Canadian sanctions . These sanctions could be relevant to and affect your travel.

Foreigners must register through their host organization within 24 hours of arrival in the country.

You must be accompanied by an official guide at all times. Follow all instructions from your guide. Unauthorized conversations with locals or currency exchange, as well as making a purchase in a store not designated for foreigners, could lead to fines or arrest.

Foreigners are prohibited from using public buses or the subway.

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are strict. Convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines.

Drugs, alcohol and travel

Import and exports

Importation of satellite telephones and shortwave radios is prohibited. Such items are confiscated upon entry and usually returned upon departure.

The import and export of local currency is prohibited.

Authorities may seize any material that they deem to be pornographic, political or intended for religious proselytizing. If you plan to bring material written in the Korean language, ensure that it will not be interpreted by local authorities as being against the interests of the North Korean regime.

Involvement in politics and unsanctioned religious activity can result in detention.

Photography of airports, roads, bridges, seaports and rail stations is prohibited. Any pictures or video taken outside of tourist areas could result in confiscation of equipment or detention. Seek permission from your tour guide before taking photographs.

Dual citizenship is not legally recognized in North Korea.

If local authorities consider you a citizen of North Korea, they may refuse to grant you access to Canadian consular services. This will prevent us from providing you with those services.

Travellers with dual citizenship

International Child Abduction

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international treaty. It can help parents with the return of children who have been removed to or retained in certain countries in violation of custody rights. It does not apply between Canada and North Korea.

If your child was wrongfully taken to, or is being held in North Korea by an abducting parent:

act as quickly as you can
consult a lawyer in Canada and in North Korea to explore all the legal options for the return of your child
report the situation to the nearest Canadian government office abroad or to the Vulnerable Children’s Consular Unit at Global Affairs Canada by calling the Emergency Watch and Response Centre.

If your child was removed from a country other than Canada, consult a lawyer to determine if The Hague Convention applies.

Be aware that Canadian consular officials cannot interfere in private legal matters or in another country’s judicial affairs.

International Child Abduction: A Guidebook for Left-Behind Parents
Travelling with children
Canadian embassies and consulates by destination
Emergency Watch and Response Centre

Ensure that you are not seen to be critical of the country’s political system or its current and former leaders Kim Jong-un, Kim Jong-il and Kim Il-Sung and their family members.

2SLGBTQI+ travellers

North Korean law does not prohibit sexual acts between individuals of the same sex. However, homosexuality is not widely accepted in North Korean society.

2SLGBTQI+ travellers have experienced harassment and verbal abuse.

Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics

The currency is North Korean won (KPW). Cash is the most accepted form of payment. Foreigners are expected to use the Euro or, alternatively, the Chinese renminbi or U.S. dollar. Change in foreign currency is often unavailable. Banking facilities are limited. There are no ATMs. Some hotels accept credit cards, if you give them advance notice.

The rainy (monsoon) season extends from the end of June until August. Typhoons occur in August and September.

Severe rainstorms can cause flooding and landslides, which in turn can result in significant loss of life and extensive damage to infrastructure, as well as hamper the provision of essential services. North Korea is also prone to drought. Keep informed of regional weather forecasts, avoid disaster areas and follow the advice of local authorities.

Tornadoes, cyclones, hurricanes, typhoons and monsoons

Local services

There is no centralized number to reach emergency services. Research and carry contact information for local police and medical facilities.

Consular assistance

There is no resident Canadian government office in North Korea. You can obtain consular assistance from the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang.

For emergency consular assistance, call the Embassy of Canada in South Korea and follow the instructions. At any time, you may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad. We take the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously and provide credible and timely information in our Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel abroad.

The content on this page is provided for information only. While we make every effort to give you correct information, it is provided on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. The Government of Canada does not assume responsibility and will not be liable for any damages in connection to the information provided.

If you need consular assistance while abroad, we will make every effort to help you. However, there may be constraints that will limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide services.

Learn more about consular services .

Risk Levels

take normal security precautions.

Take similar precautions to those you would take in Canada.

Exercise a high degree of caution

There are certain safety and security concerns or the situation could change quickly. Be very cautious at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

IMPORTANT: The two levels below are official Government of Canada Travel Advisories and are issued when the safety and security of Canadians travelling or living in the country or region may be at risk.

Avoid non-essential travel

Your safety and security could be at risk. You should think about your need to travel to this country, territory or region based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with the region, and other factors. If you are already there, think about whether you really need to be there. If you do not need to be there, you should think about leaving.

Avoid all travel

You should not travel to this country, territory or region. Your personal safety and security are at great risk. If you are already there, you should think about leaving if it is safe to do so.

Americans Can't Visit North Korea. Some Who Have Family There Hope Biden Changes That

North Korean Kang Ho-Rye (second from left), 89, hugs her South Korean relative at a resort at Mount Kumgang, North Korea, in August 2018. Almost 100 South Koreans crossed the armed border to the North to meet their separated families. The U.S. bars citizens from entering North Korea, but some Korean Americans hope the Biden administration will lift the ban and let them visit again.

Updated August 27, 2021 at 1:04 PM ET

They include Kate Shim, who immigrated to the United States from South Korea in the 1970s. After the Korean War, her uncle was missing and her family believed he was in North Korea.

Shim says her great-grandmother told her father: "You need to find your brother because I know he's alive."

Shim's brother managed to track down their missing uncle in North Korea in the 1980s, finally reuniting him with his mother after more than 30 years.

In 1989, Shim started visiting relatives in North Korea, too.

"They were alive, and I was so happy to see my cousins," says Shim, 62. "We didn't care about, like, what politics, what kind of government we are under. We're just happy to see them."

For many of the remaining members of that divided generation, time is running out to reunite with their relatives separated by geography and clashing governments.

Travel was banned after Otto Warmbier

In this Feb. 29, 2016, photo, American student Otto Warmbier cries while speaking in Pyongyang, North Korea. Warmbier died in June 2017 days after being released from detention in North Korea in a coma.

The U.S. has barred the use of an American passport to enter North Korea since 2017, making limited, one-time exceptions for some citizens such as aid workers and journalists.

The Trump administration enacted the ban following the June 2017 death of American college student Otto Warmbier after his release from detention in Pyongyang.

Last year, when Biden was a candidate, he said in an op-ed that as president he would work "to reunite Korean Americans separated from loved ones in North Korea for decades."

The administration has not commented on what it will do about the travel policy.

(The government's travel advisory also says not to visit North Korea now because of COVID-19 .)

Detention risk or dialogue opportunity

Some experts on North Korea believe the threat of detention remains, and so should the restriction.

Former President Bill Clinton claps as former Vice President Al Gore hugs Laura Ling and Euna Lee smiles with joy. Clinton and the two California journalists whose freedom he helped secure from prison in North Korea arrived at what's now called Hollywood Burbank Airport on Aug. 5, 2009.

Some previous detentions have required former presidents, including Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton , to travel to North Korea to secure their release and bring them home.

Ruggiero doesn't think allowing people-to-people exchanges will help persuade the government of Kim Jong Un to give up its nuclear weapons and missiles programs.

Other observers argue that reopening travel could be a start.

Jasper attended a meeting recently where several civic groups tried to persuade administration officials to lift the ban.

North Koreans on a bus hold hands of their South Korean relatives to bid farewell after the separated family reunion meeting at the Mount Kumgang resort on Aug. 26, 2018, in Mount Kumgang, North Korea.

Opening up helps to seek closure

Although official visitor figures for North Korea are hard to find, one tour operator estimated as many as 1,000 Americans went annually, according to news reports before the ban took effect.

One of the lucky ones who made it was Choon Lim. He was born in Nampo, North Korea, and fled to South Korea during the war. He later settled in Chicago.

In 1998, he visited North Korea hoping to find his father, but discovered he had died six years before.

When it came time for Lim to pour an offering of liquor before his father's ashes, he froze for an instant, that felt like an eternity.

"All those 47 years, what I have experienced, how I lived, how we lived in the South, all those things came down through my head. And I collapsed. I couldn't do it," remembers Lim, who is 75.

Lim later returned to North Korea several times with other Korean American families.

"I worked for helping separated family members visiting North Korea," he says, "because every one of the separated families should have the same kind of a closure that I had."

Waiting for a peaceful resolution

He says the travel ban is causing unnecessary suffering, and removing it would be "making a contribution to a kind of peaceful resolution between the U.S. and North Korea."

Se Eun Gong contributed to this story from Seoul and Michele Kelemen from Washington, D.C.

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Asia Travel

How to Travel to North Korea

Last Updated: October 25, 2022 References

This article was co-authored by Stef Katz . Stef Katz is a Travel Agent and the Founder of The Travel Superhero. She has helped clients enjoy convenience, access, personal attention, and ease in their travel planning for 6 years. Stef specializes in elevated social travel and finds ways to bring peace of mind to her travelers with open communication, genuine care, and professional support. She holds an Associate's Degree in Liberal Arts from Miami Dade College and a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing from the University of Florida, as well as numerous certifications with destinations, tour companies, and cruise lines in the travel industry. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 30,778 times.

Known as the “hermit kingdom,” trips to North Korea are extremely limited, but can spark curiosity in foreign travellers. Many countries have active travel bans advising their citizens not to travel to North Korea. Tightened travel restrictions followed the death of Otto Warmbier in 2017, an American student who was arrested during his trip in North Korea. After his release, he returned to the U.S. in a coma and then passed away. [1] X Research source Travelers can usually visit North Korea only in very special cases. If you are allowed to travel to North Korea, research its laws and culture, and prepare in case of emergencies.

Completing Necessary Paperwork

Step 1 Check if your country has any travel ban or restrictions.

For example, citizens in the UK need to contact the Korean embassy in London to apply for a visa. [2] X Trustworthy Source Official UK government website Official website for the public sector of the UK government Go to source
U.S. citizens can apply to receive a special validation passport at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/requirements/passport-for-travel-to-north-korea.html . But get ready for denial as obtaining a Special Validated Passport is rare.
If you are traveling from South Korea, you will need permission from both the Republic of Korea and the DPRK to tour North Korea.

Step 2 Book approved tours and accommodations.

Some tour operators like Koryo Tours and Mir Corporation have stopped leading trips for citizens in certain countries (like the U.S.) until travel bans are lifted, so check their websites to make sure you can join. [4] X Research source

Taking Precautions Before Your Trip

Step 1 Prepare your family in case of emergencies or death.

The Embassy of Sweden Pyongyang acts as the protecting power for U.S., Australian and Canadian citizens. [8] X Research source

Step 3 Register your trip or contact details with your country.

For example, citizens in Ireland can register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade if they’re traveling outside Ireland or Great Britain. [10] X Research source
U.S. citizens can enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at https://step.state.gov/ .

Staying Safe While in North Korea

Step 1 Develop plans for communication and safety.

You cannot take Korean money out of the country when you exit. [13] X Research source

Step 3 Be mindful of what you say or do in North Korea.

Don't fold or dispose of newspapers that have the image of the Kim dynasty's members on them. It can be taken the wrong way by North Korean officials.
Speech is extremely restricted in North Korea so it's best to avoid saying anything.

Community Q&A

Remember that even for minor crimes, you could be imprisoned for several years or for a life sentence, or even be executed. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1
Do not disrespect any of the past or current leaders; it is a crime. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
Traveling to high-risk areas like North Korea raises the risk of kidnapping, theft, rape, injury or hostage-taking. [15] X Research source Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
The risk of arrest and detainment is high, even if you are adequately prepared. [16] X Research source Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
Getting used to the culture can be difficult: what might not be considered a crime in your home country can be considered a crime under North Korean law enforcement. [17] X Research source Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
If you travel without a special validation passport, then you can be arrested by either North Korean officials or your home country's officials. [18] X Research source Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
It is illegal to call the country North Korea while you're there. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 1
It is best to stay silent, not to touch anything, and to view everything with your eyes. You can share your experiences afterwards. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
If you visit the Demilitarized Zone from either North or South Korea, you also should remain silent. Both North and South Korean guards can arrest or hurt you if you do not obey their orders. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
Don't try to overthrow the government; you will be punished in the same manner as if you were to overthrow your own government. As obvious as it may sound, someone actually tried it and did not get away easily. [19] X Research source Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 2
Breaking any law in North Korea can result in being taken to a labor camp where you will face horrible conditions and torture. Always be extremely careful not to break any laws. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1

↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/19/us/otto-warmbier-north-korea-dies.html?module=inline
↑ https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/north-korea/entry-requirements
↑ https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/07/what-its-like-to-travel-to-north-korea.html
↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/10/travel/north-korea-travel.html
↑ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/heres-what-it-will-cost-you-to-travel-to-north-korea/
↑ https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/travelers-with-special-considerations/high-risk-travelers.html
↑ https://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=410
↑ https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/KoreaDemocraticPeoplesRepublicof.html
↑ https://www.dfa.ie/travel/citizens-registration/
↑ https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/north-korea-travel-advisory.html
↑ https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/requirements/passport-for-travel-to-north-korea.html
↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/02/29/north-koreas-recipe-for-bargaining-detained-westerner-script-tv-cameras/?utm_term=.465443edfa99

About This Article

Before you can travel to North Korea, you'll need to check your country's official government site to see if they restrict or ban travel to North Korea. Once you're certain you can travel there, book a tour by looking up a tour operator that's been approved by the North Korean government. Although you should be able to find a package with airfare and accommodations, you may still need to book plane tickets to the city where your tour starts. Since the threat of arrest or detention in North Korea is high, make sure you know how to contact your government in case of an emergency. You should also adhere to North Korea's strict laws and cultural regulations on behavior, which make it illegal to perform religious activities or possess items that criticize North Korea. For more tips, like how to stay safe while in North Korea, keep reading. Did this summary help you? Yes No

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North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)

Latest update.

Do not travel to North Korea due to the very different laws affecting visitors and the uncertain security situation.

North Korea (PDF 247.16 KB)

Asia (PDF 2.21 MB)

Advice levels

Do not travel to North Korea.

North Korea and South Korea are technically still at war, and tensions have increased in recent times. North Korea frequently conducts missile tests or other provocations, raising regional tensions. Monitor developments.
The North Korean Government restricts information, especially about domestic politics and international relations. You can usually access international satellite TV channels at some tourist hotels. However, if the government shuts these down in a crisis, you may not know what's happening. Monitor state broadcasts and, if possible, international media for signs of increasing tensions.
Crime against travellers is rare. However, some travellers have reported petty crimes. Keep your passport and belongings close, especially at Pyongyang Airport and in public markets.
The rainy season is from late June to late August. Typhoons can happen in August and September. Excessive rain can cause flooding and landslides, damage housing and infrastructure, and may disrupt essential services. Know your hotel's evacuation plan.
North Korea and neighbouring countries experience earthquakes. Large earthquakes can make destructive tsunamis more likely. Don't wait for official warnings, alarms or sirens. Know the tsunami warning signs and move to high ground straight away if you're on the coast.

Full travel advice: Safety

Medical facilities are basic, including in Pyongyang, and hygiene is poor. Avoid surgery unless you need it to leave North Korea. If you're seriously ill or injured, you'll need medical evacuation to China for treatment. Contact the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang or if possible, the Australian Embassy in Seoul for assistance. Medical evacuations are very expensive and difficult to organise. Ensure your travel insurance covers this.
Insect-borne, waterborne, foodborne, and other infectious diseases are risks in North Korea. Ensure you have the appropriate vaccinations and bring preventative medication. Practice good personal hygiene, avoid raw or undercooked foods and drink only boiled or bottled water.
Medications can be very hard to get in North Korea. If you plan to bring medication, check if it's legal. Take enough legal medicine for your trip.
From March to May, strong winds carry yellow dust to the Korean Peninsula from Mongolia and China. This can cause eye, nose, mouth and throat irritations. Get medical advice if you have heart or breathing problems.

Full travel advice: Health

Travelling as part of a tour or with a guide doesn't give you special protection from North Korean laws. Authorities may arrest, detain or expel you for activities that aren't crimes in Australia. They may also search your belongings and monitor your communications.
Don't use or carry illegal drugs. Penalties for drug offences are severe and parole is unlikely. Drug traffickers can get indefinite jail sentences.
Authorities may judge many activities as spying. Be very careful when taking photos. It's illegal to photograph anything other than designated public tourist sites. Always ask your North Korean guide for permission before taking photos.
North Korea has strict laws about what you can bring into the country. It's illegal to bring in religious, pornographic or political items. Declare all published material and electronic devices when you arrive. It's also illegal to knowingly or unknowingly possess items that breach North Korean law.
Be careful who you talk to and what you say. It's illegal to show disrespect or make jokes about North Korea, current or former leaders or their families. It's also illegal to talk to North Koreans without authorisation. Authorities may consider it spying if you do. Only shop at stores designated for foreigners.
North Korea doesn't recognise dual nationality. The North Korean authorities may permit limited or no consular assistance to detained dual nationals. This includes Australians of Korean heritage, including those originally from South Korea. Australian-South Korean dual nationals may need permission from South Korean authorities to travel to North Korea.

Full travel advice: Local laws

If despite our advice, you travel to North Korea, you'll need a visa for all types of travel. North Korea doesn't have an embassy or consulate in Australia. This means you need to travel to another country, such as China, to get your visa. If you're travelling for business, you'll need a North Korean sponsor and permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Journalists must get a special visa. Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. You should contact the nearest embassy or consulate of North Korea for the latest details.
Tours to North Korea have been suspended until further notice for most nationalities including Australians. If North Korea re-opens its borders to other countries, you may have to travel via Beijing, requiring a double-or multiple-entry visa for China. Without such a visa, you won't be able to re-enter China when you leave North Korea. Contact the Embassy or Consulate of the People's Republic of China for details.
Travellers must register with North Korean government authorities within 24 hours of arriving. Do this through your host organisation or hotel.
The local currency is the North Korean Won, although foreigners are not permitted to use it. Foreigners are required to use foreign currency. The Euro is the most widely accepted foreign currency. US dollars and Chinese yuan are also widely accepted. Exchanging currencies is difficult. You can't use ATMs, traveller's cheques, or debit and credit cards. Take enough foreign currency for your trip in small denominations.
You can only travel on an official tour. An official guide must always accompany you. Charges for travel can be high, including for taxis, guides, tolls and permits.

Full travel advice: Travel

Local contacts

The Consular Services Charter details what we can and can't do to help you overseas.
Australia doesn't have an embassy in North Korea. We aren't able to provide regular consular services to Australian citizens in North Korea. Our ability to provide consular services in North Korea is extremely limited. The Australian Embassy in Seoul may be able to provide limited consular assistance to Australians in North Korea, although it is not possible to contact the Embassy in Seoul directly from North Korea. If you're arrested or detained, North Korean authorities may deny you consular access to Australian officials.
The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang serves as the 'protecting power' for Australia and provides limited emergency consular services. There may be reduced capacity from the Swedish Embassy to offer consular assistance. The North Korean authorities may delay or deny your access if you are arrested or detained.
If despite our advice, you travel to North Korea, consider registering your travel to North Korea with the Australian Embassy in Seoul.
To stay up-to-date with local information, follow the Australian Embassy in Seoul's social media accounts to the extent possible.
If you require consular assistance, please contact the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang or, if possible, the Australian Embassy in Seoul.

Full travel advice: Local contacts

Full advice

Civil unrest and political tension.

Since the practical end of the Korean War in 1953, the Korean Peninsula has been divided by a demilitarised zone (DMZ), which separates:

North Korea or the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)
South Korea or the Republic of Korea (ROK)

An armistice agreement helps to maintain peace. However, North and South Korea are still technically at war and relations are tense. Tensions have increased in recent times.

South Korean and North Korean militaries sometimes exchange artillery fire across lines of control.

Security and tension

The security situation on the Korean Peninsula can worsen with little warning.

North Korea regularly conducts ballistic missile launches and has conducted underground nuclear tests. These activities increase tension in the region.

North Korea regularly makes hostile statements about other countries, including Australia.

North Korea says it can't guarantee the safety of embassies and international organisations in the country if there's conflict.

Access to information

North Korea is a closed society.

Authorities restrict access to information. What's available is unreliable. There's very little, if any, information about internal politics.

You can usually access international satellite TV channels at hotels that international travellers use, although these are often censored and can be quickly disrupted.

Civil unrest, internal instability or tension on the Korean Peninsula could rise quickly. Your access to information, including via international news channels, can be quickly cut off.

If, despite the risks, you travel to North Korea:

take the necessary precautions to ensure your safety
pay close attention to your personal security
monitor state broadcasts and other local sources for signs of rising tension, civil unrest or internal instability
if possible, monitor South Korean and other media for security risks
you should notify the Australian Embassy in Seoul of your travel plans

Crime against travellers is rare. However, some travellers have reported petty crimes.

Keep your passport and belongings close particularly:

at Pyongyang airport
in public markets

Cyber Security

You may be at risk of cyber-based threats during overseas travel to any country. Digital identity theft is a growing concern. Your devices and personal data can be compromised, especially if you’re connecting to Wi-Fi, using or connecting to shared or public computers, or to Bluetooth.

Social media can also be risky in destinations where there are social or political tensions, or laws that may seem unreasonable by Australian standards. Travellers have been arrested for things they have said on social media. Don't comment on local or political events on your social media.

More information:

Cyber security when travelling overseas

Kidnapping can happen anywhere, anytime, including destinations that are typically at lower risk. The Australian Government's longstanding policy is that it doesn't make payments or concessions to kidnappers.

Terrorism is a threat throughout the world.

Terrorist threats

Climate and natural disasters

North Korea experiences natural disasters and severe weather , including:

flooding and landslides
earthquakes

In an emergency, our ability to provide consular assistance, if any, will likely be severely limited.

If a natural disaster occurs:

exercise caution
stay away from affected areas
secure your passport in a safe, waterproof location
follow the advice of local authorities
monitor local media and other sources
keep in contact with friends and family

Check with tour operators before travelling to affected areas.

Typhoons and severe weather

The rainy season is from late June to late August.

Excessive rainfall can cause flooding and landslides, damage housing and infrastructure, and may disrupt essential services. Flash flooding can occur after short periods of rain.

August to September is typhoon season, but typhoons may occur at other times.

Flooding is common during the rainy season and may disrupt transport and other essential services. Check if severe weather has affected the areas where you plan to travel.

The direction and strength of typhoons can change with little warning.

If a typhoon approaches:

know your hotel evacuation plans
identify your local shelter

If you stay:

adequate shelter might not be available
flights could be delayed, suspended or fill quickly
ports may close

Contact your airline for flight updates.

World Meteorological Organisation Severe Weather Information Centre

Earthquakes and tsunamis

Earthquake activity on the Korean Peninsula is low for the region. However, North Korea and neighbouring countries do experience earthquakes. Large earthquakes, predominantly in neighbouring countries, can cause destructive tsunamis that may affect the Korean Peninsula.

Get updates on earthquakes and tsunamis from the US Tsunami Warning Center .

If there's an earthquake or tsunami:

follow our advice for natural disasters
move to higher ground right away if you're on the coast

Don't wait for official warnings, such as alarms or sirens. Once on high ground, check local media.

Travel insurance

Get comprehensive travel insurance before you leave.

Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The Australian Government won't pay for these costs.

You'll probably need a specialised insurance policy that covers travel to high-risk destinations. Most Australian policies won't cover you for travel to North Korea.

If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.

If you're not insured, you may have to pay many thousands of dollars up-front for medical care.

what activities and care your policy covers
that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away

Physical and mental health

Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition.

See your doctor or travel clinic to:

have a basic health check-up
ask if your travel plans may affect your health
plan any vaccinations you need

Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.

If you have immediate concerns for your welfare or the welfare of another Australian, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or contact your nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate to discuss counselling hotlines and services available in your location.

General health advice
Healthy holiday tips (Healthdirect Australia)

Medications

Not all medication available over the counter or by prescription in Australia is available in other countries. Some may even be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.

Medications can be very hard to get in North Korea.

If you plan to bring medication, check if it's legal in North Korea. Take enough legal medicine for your trip.

Carry a copy of your prescription and a letter from your doctor stating:

what the medication is
the required dosage
that it's for personal use

Health risks

Insect-borne illnesses

Malaria is a risk, especially in the south of the country from May to September.

Japanese encephalitis is also a risk.

To protect yourself from disease:

make sure your accommodation is insect-proof
use insect repellent
wear long, loose, light-coloured clothing
consider taking medicine to prevent malaria
get vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis before you travel

Infectious diseases

Other health risks

Waterborne, foodborne and other infectious diseases occur, including:
tuberculosis

Intestinal worm infections, such as roundworm, are common. These can affect travellers.

Get advice on preventative medicine for intestinal worms.

Hand, foot and mouth disease

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is common.

Serious outbreaks sometimes occur. Outbreaks usually start in March and peak in May but can continue until October each year.

The disease mostly affects children aged under 10 years. Adult cases, especially in young adults, are not unusual.

Signs of HFMD include fever and blisters and rashes on the hands, feet and buttocks.

The disease is spread by direct contact with nose and throat discharges and faeces of infected people.

To protect yourself from illness:

boil drinking water or drink bottled water from bottles with sealed lids
avoid ice cubes
avoid raw and undercooked food, such as salads
wash your hands frequently and thoroughly

Yellow dust

Yellow dust is carried to the Korean Peninsula by strong winds from Mongolia and China from March to May.

The dust can:

cause eye, nose, mouth and throat irritations
make breathing and heart problems worse

To protect yourself:

stay indoors as much as possible
avoid exercising outdoors on days of high yellow dust concentration
speak to a doctor if you're concerned about symptoms

Medical facilities

The standard of medical facilities is basic and hygiene is poor. This includes in Pyongyang.

Avoid surgery unless you need it to leave North Korea.

The Friendship Hospital has English-speaking doctors for travellers. The hospital is in the Munsudong District of Pyongyang. Like other hospitals in North Korea, it may:

lack heating and medical supplies
have power outages and other difficulties

The Friendship Hospital may not have strong infection control capabilities. Healthcare standards in North Korea mean that adequate care could not be provided to both residents and travellers in the event of a mass casualty incident or epidemic.

The cost of medical treatment is high.

You may need to pay cash up-front, usually in euros, before a hospital will treat you.

Travel from rural areas to Pyongyang for medical emergencies can be long and difficult.

Medical evacuation

Since January 2020, North Korean authorities have severely restricted flights in and out of North Korea. This makes medical evacuation difficult.

If you become seriously ill or injured, you'll need to be evacuated to China for treatment. Contact the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang or if possible, the Australian Embassy in Seoul for assistance.

Medical evacuation can be very expensive. It can also be difficult to arrange quickly. You may face delays getting the required approvals or booking flights. There are few regular flights from North Korea.

You and your medical escorts will also need visas for China for evacuation.

Authorities don't allow evacuation across the demilitarised zone to South Korea.

You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that may appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.

If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our Consular Services Charter . But we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail. If you are arrested or detained, ask North Korean officials to notify the Embassy of Sweden immediately.

Travelling as part of a tour or with a guide offers no special protection from North Korean laws.

Arbitrary arrest and detention

Authorities have arrested and detained foreigners, including Australians.

Culture and politics influence authorities when they're making arrests, not just the law.

You may be arrested, detained or expelled for activities that aren't crimes in Australia.

Authorities closely watch travellers. They may search belongings in your hotel room or monitor your email, internet, phone and fax usage.

Penalties for drug offences are severe. Trafficking can result in an indefinite jail sentence.

Parole is rare in drug-related cases.

Carrying or using drugs

Authorities make arrests and detain people for many activities. Penalties can be very harsh.

Many seemingly innocent activities may be perceived as spying.

It's illegal to take photos of anything other than designated public tourist sites. This includes:

roads and bridges
rail stations
government buildings
scenes of poverty
anything that may give a negative impression of North Korea

Always ask your North Korean guide for permission before taking photos.

It's illegal to:

bring items that may be seen as religious, pornographic or political
not declare published material or electronic devices when you enter
knowingly or unknowingly possess items that breach North Korean law
show disrespect or make jokes about North Korea, current or former leaders or their families
engage in an unauthorised currency transaction
shop at stores not designated for foreigners

It's also illegal to talk to North Koreans without authorisation. This may be perceived as spying.

If you're involved in a civil or commercial dispute, authorities can stop you leaving the country.

Australian laws

Australia has sanctions against North Korea . It is prohibited to supply, sell, or transfer to North Korea (directly or indirectly) goods other than food and medicine unless authorised. It is also prohibited to procure or receive goods other than food and medicine from North Korea unless authorised. Be aware that Australia's sanctions prohibit the transfer of luxury goods to North Korea.

Australians travelling to North Korea can carry items on the luxury goods lists for personal use only. You must not sell or give these items to others.

Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you're overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.

Staying within the law and respecting customs

Dual citizenship

North Korea doesn't recognise dual nationality.

If you're a dual citizen, this limits the consular services we can provide if you're arrested or detained. This includes if you're an Australian of Korean heritage, including if you're originally from South Korea.

If you're a South Korean-Australian dual citizen, you may need to get approval from South Korean authorities to travel to North Korea.

Get advice from a South Korean embassy or consulate before you travel.

Dual nationals

Local customs

Same-sex relationships are not explicitly illegal in North Korea. However, authorities don't find them acceptable. Be discrete.

LGBTI travellers

Visas and border measures

Every country or territory decides who can enter or leave through its borders. For specific information about the evidence you'll need to enter a foreign destination, check with the nearest embassy, consulate or immigration department of the destination you're entering.

If despite our advice, you travel to North Korea, you need a visa for all types of travel.

If you arrive without a valid visa, you may be:

denied entry

There is no longer a North Korean embassy or consulate in Australia. This means you need to travel to another country, such as China or Indonesia, to get your visa for North Korea.

You may need to provide recent international travel itineraries to apply for a visa. You may also have to show these when you arrive in North Korea.

Other visas

Business travellers generally need:

sponsorship by a North Korean organisation
permission from the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Professional journalists must apply for special permission to visit. Authorities do not permit journalists to enter the country on a tourist visa.

Entry and exit conditions change regularly. Contact the Embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in Indonesia for details about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules.

Border measures

You'll likely need a double or multiple-entry visa for China if you're travelling through China to or from North Korea. Otherwise, you won't be able to re-enter China when you leave North Korea. Contact the Embassy or Consulate of the People's Republic of China for details.

Travel advice for China

Other formalities

Australia has sanctions against North Korea that limit what you can take with you. See Local laws.

When entering North Korea, you need to declare all:

published material, such as books, academic papers and pamphlets
communications devices, such as mobile phones, satellite phones, GPS receivers and radios

Assume that authorities will inspect published material and electronic devices and possibly confiscate them. Speak to your tour operator if you have concerns.

If authorities don't confiscate your controlled items, you may need to leave them at the customs checkpoints. You may be able to collect them when you leave.

You may be quarantined if you show medical symptoms of a serious communicable disease.

Embassy or consulate of North Korea

Register on arrival

Travellers must register with government authorities within 24 hours of arrival in North Korea. You can do this through your host organisation.

If you stay in a hotel, confirm at check-in that your hotel will take care of your registration.

Some countries won't let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you're just transiting or stopping over.

Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.

You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than 6 months.

The Australian Government doesn't set these rules. Check your passport's expiry date before you travel. If you're not sure it'll be valid for long enough, consider getting a new passport .

Lost or stolen passport

Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.

Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.

If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:

In Australia, contact the Australian Passport Information Service .
If you're overseas, contact the nearest Australian embassy or consulate .

Passport with 'X' gender identifier

Although Australian passports comply with international standards for sex and gender, we can’t guarantee that a passport showing 'X' in the sex field will be accepted for entry or transit by another country. Contact the nearest embassy, high commission or consulate of your destination before you arrive at the border to confirm if authorities will accept passports with 'X' gender markers.

The local currency is the North Korean Won (KPW). Foreigners are not allowed to use the Won. Foreigners are required to use foreign currency.

The euro is the most widely accepted foreign currency. US dollars and Chinese yuan are also widely accepted.

Changing currencies in North Korea is difficult.

Banking facilities are limited and traveller's cheques aren't accepted.

ATMs are not available.

You can't use a debit or credit card to withdraw cash from a bank.

Some shops and restaurants catering to travellers might convert foreign currency so you can pay.

Use cash. Take small denominations of foreign currency, as you may not be able to get change from large denominations.

Local travel

North Korea doesn't allow independent tourism. Authorities restrict travel within the country.

Authorities only allow tourism in groups organised by North Korean officials or by approved travel agencies.

An official guide must always accompany travellers.

You may have to show your identity documents at police checkpoints when entering and leaving towns.

Travellers often report that charges for travel can be high and arbitrary, including charges for:

hire vehicles

Communications

Assume that authorities are monitoring all your phone conversations. This includes your mobile if it wasn't confiscated when you arrived.

International phone lines may be disconnected without notice.

Some hotels in Pyongyang allow direct dial international phone calls. Charges are high.

Internet access is severely restricted.

Communications are unreliable.

Direct telephone calls to or from South Korea are not possible.

Necessities

You can buy food and clean water with hard currency at some hotels and restaurants.

Energy and pharmaceutical shortages are common.

Road travel

Tour operators or sponsors usually provide road transportation.

Expect regular delays with vehicles and passengers needing to clear through checkpoints.

Highways are relatively good. Rural and some suburban roads can be in a poor state.

Tourists are generally not allowed to drive.

Vehicles may be old and break down.

Public transport

Authorities restrict foreigners’ use of public transport , including the rail network.

Ask your tour operator or guide about public transport or rail travel.

If you're travelling by train, expect long delays due to power outages.

Many coastal areas are sensitive.

If you travel to North Korea by sea, your vessel could be detained or fired on.

Flights to and from North Korea are regularly cancelled or delayed.

Sanctions are in place that affect North Korean service providers, including airlines. Check with your tour operator or airline before you travel.

DFAT doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.

Check North Korea's air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.

Emergencies

Research and carry contact information for local police, medical facilities and your host organisation.

Depending on what you need, contact your:

family and friends
travel agent
insurance provider

Consular contacts

Read the Consular Services Charter for what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.

Australia doesn't have an embassy in North Korea. The Australian Embassy in Seoul provides consular assistance to Australians in North Korea, although our capacity to do so is very limited.

If you're arrested or detained, North Korean authorities may deny you consular access to Australian officials.

The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang serves as the 'protecting power' for Australia and provides limited emergency consular services. The Swedish Embassy may have reduced capacity to offer consular assistance, and North Korean authorities may deny access to consular officials.

If despite our advice, you travel to North Korea, consider registering your travel to North Korea by advising the Australian Embassy in Seoul.

If you require consular assistance, please contact the Australian Embassy in Seoul if you're able, or the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang .

Australian Embassy, Seoul

19th floor, Kyobo Building

Seoul 03154, Republic of Korea

Phone: +82 2 2003 0100

Fax: +82 2 2003 0196

Website: southkorea.embassy.gov.au

Check the Embassy website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.

South Korean phone numbers can't be called directly from within North Korea.

Embassy of Sweden, Pyongyang

Munsudong 3

Taedonggang District

Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Phone: (+46) 8 405 10 00

Email: [email protected]

Website: swedenabroad.se/en/embassies/north-korea-pyongyang

24-hour Consular Emergency Centre

In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:

+61 2 6261 3305 from overseas
1300 555 135 in Australia

Travelling to North Korea?

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North Korea

Travel Advice /
Section pages:
Reviewed: 3 October 2023, 15:55 NZDT
Still current at: 28 April 2024
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Do not travel

Do not travel to North Korea due to extensive restrictions placed on foreigners, serious risk of arrest and detention, and an uncertain security situation that could change with very little warning. The security situation on the Korean Peninsula remains volatile – technically North Korea and South Korea are still at war (level 4 of 4).

Local laws and regulations New Zealanders in North Korea are advised to follow all local laws and regulations and exercise discretion and caution at all times. Foreigners may be arrested, detained or expelled for activities that would not be considered crimes in New Zealand. North Korean authorities have detained a number of foreign visitors in recent years and consequences can be severe.

Independent tourism is not permitted in North Korea and travel within the country is severely restricted – travel must be authorised in advance by the North Korean government. Travel with a guide or as part of a tour does not provide special protection from North Korean laws.

There are strict laws and regulations in North Korea covering the speech, behaviour and movement of foreigners. Foreigners in North Korea are closely monitored by authorities and are expected to be accompanied by a guide at all times. Showing disrespect, including in jest, to the country’s leadership, family, or regime is a crime in North Korea. Unauthorised religious or political activity, photography or filming of anything other than tourist sites, unauthorised travel and unwarranted interaction with local nationals may result in your arrest, long-term detention or expulsion.

We recommend you do not attempt to bring anything into North Korea that could be deemed religious or political in nature. Travellers should assume that authorities will inspect published material and electronic devices and possibly confiscate these items. Possession of prohibited items may itself be considered a crime. Tourist facilities are minimal and telecommunications are unreliable.

Your movement and communications may be under surveillance at all times, even in private spaces, including searching of your belongings in your hotel room and monitoring of your email, internet and phone usage.

New Zealanders considering travel to North Korea should familiarise themselves with the operation of United Nations sanctions and, in particular, with prohibitions on transferring goods to North Korea. The carriage to North Korea of any items on the luxury goods list by any person is prohibited under New Zealand law.

You cannot enter North Korea through the border with South Korea without special permission from the North Korean and South Korean governments.

Political tensions Tensions between North Korea and the international community were high during 2017, as a result of North Korea’s missile and nuclear testing conducted that year. Following a pause in testing in April 2018, North Korea resumed its ballistic missile testing programme in May 2019. There was an unprecedented amount of missile tests in 2022; the high pace has continued in 2023. There are signs that North Korea may resume nuclear testing for the first time since 2017.

The increase in missile testing has contributed to relations with North Korea remaining tense and the situation could deteriorate again with little warning. Due to very limited access to international media, there may be no advance warning about events that could affect your security. We advise New Zealanders to stay informed of local developments as much as possible.

General travel advice New Zealanders travelling or living in North Korea should have comprehensive medical and travel insurance policies in place. Travellers are advised to carry enough cash to enable travel out of the country should a medical or other emergency arise, as money transfers or other arrangements may not be possible. Modern medical facilities in North Korea are basic and hygiene is poor.

Always carry some form of identification. We recommend photocopying valuable documents, and having two copies of your passport, tickets and visa.

Any photography or videos taken outside of tourist areas could result in confiscation of equipment or detention. Avoid taking pictures of transport infrastructure, officials, government buildings, or anything that may give a negative impression of North Korea. If in doubt, don’t take a picture. Follow the advice of your tour group or local authorities.

As there is no New Zealand diplomatic presence in North Korea, the ability of the government to assist New Zealand citizens is severely limited. Even then, some foreign nationals have reportedly not been granted access to consular support when detained in North Korea as is at the discretion of their government.

New Zealanders in or considering travel to North Korea are strongly encouraged to register their details with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. If you do choose to travel, stay as short a time as possible, eliminate unnecessary activities and review security arrangements. We offer also advice to New Zealanders about contingency planning .

Foreigners are not permitted to use the local currency (the North Korean Won). Cash is the most acceptable form of payment, with the Euro, USD and Chinese Yuan being the most widely accepted currency. ATM’s are not available, banking facilities are limited and you cannot use your debit or credit card to withdraw currency from the bank.

Travel tips

For current health alerts

The New Zealand Embassy Seoul, South Korea covers North Korea

Street Address Jeong-Dong Building, Level 8 (West Tower), 15-5 Jeong-Dong, Jung-Gu, Seoul 110-784, Republic of Korea Postal Address KPO Box 2258, Seoul, 110-110, Republic of Korea Telephone +82 2 3701 7700 Fax +82 2 3701 7701 Email [email protected] Web Site http://www.mfat.govt.nz/korea Hours Mon - Fri 0900 - 1230, 1330 - 1730 hrs

See our regional advice for North Asia

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Can You Travel To North Korea (And What Happens If You're Detained)?

As of 2023, U.S. citizens are not allowed to travel to North Korea without special permission from the Secretary of State, which is rarely granted, according to the U.S. Department of State website. And the reasons why travel is limited to the small East Asian country, the agency's website explains, include the risk of arrest and detainment by the North Korean Government, or the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

In late July 2023, U.S. Army Private Travis T. King, stationed in South Korea and scheduled to return to the U.S. to face disciplinary action, fled to communist North Korea and was likely taken into custody, according to U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (via Reuters ). Instances of Westerners crossing over from South to Korea are rare, but a number of American citizens have done so in the recent past and were subsequently arrested, BBC News reports.

In each case, there were different outcomes, as well as different motivating factors as to why those individuals chose to enter a country known for human rights abuse, per Amnesty International . According to CNN , though, Westerners detained in North Korea are first interrogated, often put on trial, and sometimes sentenced to hard labor. Meanwhile, massive diplomatic efforts are typically required to secure their freedom.

Otto Warmbier was arrested in 2016

Westerners imprisoned in North Korea haven't always defected — defined by Cambridge Dictionary as leaving one's country for another country designated an enemy or competing state. In some cases, journalists, researchers, and even tourists inside North Korea were taken into custody. In 2016, U.S. college student Otto Warmbier was arrested after entering the country with a Chinese tour group.

Warmbier was detained and accused of stealing a political poster. He was put on trial, which lasted about an hour, and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor, but instead was sent home 17 months later with severe brain damage and died days later. In the case of Kenneth Bae, the longest-held American citizen imprisoned in North Korea, that labor included grueling work from "from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at night working on the field, carrying rock, shoveling coal," Bae told CNN.

Bae was ostensibly in North Korea leading a tour group, but according to North Korean officials, was engaged in missionary work, which is outlawed by the DPRK, The New York Times reports. According to Bae, North Korean officials said to him (via CNN), "No one remembers you. You have been forgotten by people, your government. You're not going home anytime soon. You'll be here for 15 years. You'll be 60 before you go home."

Bae was released in 2014, along with another U.S. citizen, Matthew Todd Miller after a diplomatic visit from Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. Miller entered North Korea intending to defect, according to The Guardian .

Questions remain about why Private King entered North Korea

Per Reuters, U.S. Army Private Travis T. King had served time in South Korea for undisclosed reasons and was on his way back to the United States to face further military action when he fled the airport after passing security alone. He then joined a tour group set to visit the Panmunjom truce village near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea. While there, he broke away from the group and crossed the border.

CNN reported the disciplinary action against King in South Korea, for which he was set to face further disciplinary action in the U.S., may be assault related. After King crossed the DMZ, his status as well as why he might have done so were uncertain. According to former U.S. official Victor Cha of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (via Reuters), individuals like King inside North Korea might be held for weeks if not months, "for propaganda purposes (especially if this is a U.S. soldier) before a coerced confession and apology," Cha said.

If King had truly tried to defect to North Korea , it will be up to the North Korean government to accept or reject him. According to Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in South Korea, speaking with the Associated Press , King will likely be used by the DPRK, "for propaganda purposes in the short term and then as a bargaining chip."

How To Travel to North Korea as a Tourist

Note: Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, North Korea’s borders have been completely closed to foreigners. As of right now, it is not possible to go to North Korea.

Quite a few of my friends were shocked to discover I was travelling to North Korea. “I didn’t even know you could go to North Korea, let alone join a tour group!” they exclaimed.

Yup, against common belief, it is possible to travel to North Korea. And it’s actually surprisingly easy.

Almost anyone can visit North Korea, with the exception of citizens of South Korea and the United States. It was only recently (September 2019) that the US government banned its citizens from travelling to North Korea, and this may be reversed in time now that Donald Trump is out of office.

In this blog post, I’ll walk you through how to travel to North Korea as a tourist, explaining everything you need to know about tours, visas and travelling into the country itself.

How To Travel To North Korea: The Logistics

There are very few places from where you can enter North Korea — you can’t simply book a flight from London to Pyongyang! You will most likely need to go through China, which shares a border with North Korea. You’ll also need to book onto a government-run tour group, as you cannot visit North Korea independently.

With this in mind, there are three things you’ll need to do in order to visit North Korea as a tourist:

Book onto a tour
Arrange a Chinese visa
Organise transport to China

1) Book Onto A Tour

To visit North Korea, you must book onto a tour group. You cannot visit North Korea independently as the country’s government simply doesn’t allow this. Any visit to North Korea will be an all-inclusive tour with an organized itinerary — there is no getting around this.

Your tour group is ultimately controlled by the Government via the Korean International Travel Company. This means your itinerary is set in stone, with no room for free exploration or solo adventuring. You will be escorted at all times by two guides and a driver.

There are a few tour operators who run trips in North Korea, and these are Lupine Travel , Young Pioneers and Koryo Group . I personally went with Lupine Travel, although it seems as though the three companies are all fairly similar.

There is quite a well-pathed tourist route which most if not all, tourists are taken on. This goes to all the main attractions in Pyongyang , to the Demilitarised Zone on the border of South Korea and to a mountainous region in the north.

Once you choose the tour you want to go on and have booked it, the tour operator will take care of a lot of the logistics for you, including your return transport into North Korea from China, your North Korean visa and your accommodation, food and itinerary once in North Korea.

The tour company probably will not take care of your return transport to China from your home country, or your Chinese visa (although they will help you with this).

Once you’re booked onto a tour, the company will liaise with you prior to your trip, ensuring they have everything they need from you and that you have everything ready, as well.

2) Get Your Chinese Visa

My tour with Lupine Travel started and ended in Beijing. This meant I required a Dual Entry Chinese Visa, as I would technically be entering China twice: once via a flight from London, and then again when I left North Korea.

The Chinese visa can be a little tricky. I’ve applied for and received 2 Chinese visas in the last decade, and they were a bit of a hassle on both occasions. There are a lot of forms to fill out and it can get complicated. Be sure to read through the documents carefully and answer everything truthfully.

For your Chinese visa, you will need:

Your passport: with remaining validity of at least 6 months and with blank visa pages.
Visa Application Form: truthfully completed and type-written.
A photo: taken within the last six months; full face against a light background; size: 48mm x 33mm; bare-headed unless for religious reasons.

You can visit a Chinese embassy or Chinese Visa Application Centre to hand in your documents, or you can mail it. It typically takes four working days to process your application, but it’s recommended that you apply about 2 months before, as there can be issues. They rejected my photo on one occasion and I had to resubmit it, for example.

Once approved and processed, you can go and collect your passport and visa. The fee for a Chinese visa is £150 / $140.

Visit the Chinese Visa Application Service Center to apply for your visa.

The tour company you booked with will handle your North Korean tourist visa for you. All you’ll need to do is fill in a few simple forms and send over a scanned copy of your passport. Your guide will then give you your North Korean visa once you meet up with your tour group.

3) Book Your Transport To China

As your tour to North Korea likely starts in China, you’ll need to book flights or some other form of transport to China, as this is probably not included in your tour package. Check which city your tour’s meeting place is — mine met at the train station in Beijing, but some meet in the city of Dandong, which is on the border of China and North Korea.

Flights from Europe start from about £500. You can search for cheap flights on Skyscanner.

Travelling into North Korea from China

As mentioned above, your tour company will take care of the logistics of your transport into and out of North Korea from China. You’ll most likely meet your tour group in Beijing or Dandong, and then travel with them from there into North Korea, either by train or plane. It depends on the tour company you go with as to whether you’ll go by train or plane. You will be escorted at all times on your transit into and out of North Korea.

The sleeper train departs Beijing in the late afternoon and goes through Northeast China overnight, before reaching the border at around midday.

Once at the border, North Korean soldiers will come onboard to do visa, passport and luggage checks. I found the experience quite intimidating; they poked around in my backpack and asked me to explain what some things were. I remember a fellow traveller on my tour awkwardly explaining what his beard trimmer was used for.

You will also be given forms asking you to declare electronic devices that you’re bringing into the country. I’d advise that you don’t bring any devices with you if possible — you won’t be able to use the internet or make phone calls anyway, and you may be asked to open it up and show the soldiers your files.

Be certain that you do not have religious material, pornography, or memes/other insulting material about North Korea on your device.

It can take a few hours to cross the North Korean entry customs. Once through, you’ll spend about 5 hours travelling through the scenic North Korean countryside before arriving in Pyongyang .

Lauren Pears on the train to North Korea

Another way to enter North Korea from China is to take an aeroplane, which is much quicker than the train but certainly less scenic. Air Koryo runs three to four flights from Beijing to Pyongyang each week, as well as weekly flights from Shanghai, Shenyang and Dandong.

I took the train myself, so I don’t have first-hand insight into what the plane is like. But apparently, you’re welcomed on board with songs about socialism and Kim Jong-un, as well as magazines that showcase the ‘fatherly leader’ and the heinous war crimes of Japan and the US.

Tourism in North Korea: Frequently asked questions

There are lots of unique rules and regulations around travelling to North Korea as a foreigner, so let’s break these down.

How Much Does It Cost To Visit North Korea?

The North Korean tour companies I mentioned above organise all-inclusive packages. This means all of your meals, transport within the country and hotel will be included in the price. Tour prices range massively — between about £400 and £3500 depending on the length of your tour and the company you choose to go with.

Lupine Travel tours start at £569 ($740)
Young Pioneers tours start at £444 ($578)
Koryo Group tours start at £448 ($583)

You should also bear in mind the cost of getting to North Korea. My flight from London to Beijing (the starting point of the tour) was about £500.

Monument to Party Founder, Pyongyang, North Korea

Is It Safe To Visit North Korea?

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advises against all but essential travel to North Korea. They note that “the security situation in North Korea can change with little notice and with no advance warning of possible actions by the North Korean authorities.” However, the FCO also advises the same for many parts of Turkey and Egypt, which are still frequently visited by tourists.

Tensions between North Korea and the United States have calmed and North Korea announced a halt to its missile testing in April 2018. It is now arguably much safer to visit the country than when I visited in August 2017 .

As long as you follow all the rules outlined to you before you enter North Korea, travel is ‘deemed safe’ in that you are never alone and are not going to be the target of petty crimes such as theft.

While there is definitely some risk in visiting North Korea, if you follow the rules and remain respectful, there should be no issues. Terrorism and crimes towards tourists are highly unlikely and detainment of tourists is rare!

Kim Il Sung Square, Pyongyang, North Korea

What Are The Rules For Tourists In North Korea?

Your every movement is watched and monitored and, under no circumstance , can you wander off on your own. Doing so will result in serious consequences for both you and your tour guide.
The country dislikes the term North Korea and prefers to be called the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or DPRK for short.
Do not speak negatively about the country or the leaders. Disrespecting the country is viewed as a major offence and has caused problems for tourists in the past.
You cannot take photos of everything. You’re allowed to take photos of tourist attractions etc, but it is forbidden to photograph the military, labourers or construction sites, among other things.
You must ensure that any photos of statues of the leaders must capture their whole body — no close-ups or chopping off their feet from the frame.
Your belongings will be thoroughly searched at the border. It is forbidden to bring religious material, porn or literature or film about North Korea into the country. Please, for heaven’s sake, do not try to bring a copy of The Interview into North Korea. Confiscated possessions may not be returned at the border.
Practising religion is not allowed. North Korea is an atheist country and practising religion there is highly restricted. Praying or showing off a bible is a great way to get detained.
You cannot speak with random citizens during your time in North Korea, as doing so may be considered espionage.

Will Visiting North Korea Affect Whether Other Countries Grant Me Entry?

Not at all! There are no restrictions on entering any country due to previous entry into North Korea — including South Korea and the United States. In fact, it’s unlikely that border controls will even know you’ve been to North Korea because your visa is issued on a separate piece of paper and your passport is not stamped.

My Experience Visiting North Korea

I found my time in North Korea to actually feel a lot more relaxed than I anticipated. When I first arrived, I was a little nervous and tried not to look at anybody for too long or seem disrespectful in any way.

However, by the end of my second day in North Korea, I felt more relaxed and realised that I just had to follow the rules. I stuck with my tour group, asked permission to take photos, didn’t question any “facts” the tour guides stated about their country, and didn’t try to interact with random locals. In doing this, all was well.

The country was extremely different to how I imagined it and threw a lot of my preconceptions out the window.

I was surprised, for example, to find that Pyongyang was a very picturesque and modern city. I think I had expected it to look kind of grey and old. I was also surprised to see that the countryside was absolutely beautiful, with rolling hills and vivid green colours.

Of course, I also saw plenty of things that upset, angered or confused me a little, such as the phenomenal amount of blatant propaganda and the fact that a guy on my tour got told off for buying ice cream from a nearby stall.

READ MORE: My North Korea Travel Experience – What’s It Really Like?

What Do You Get To See In North Korea?

The key thing to bear in mind is that you won’t get to see the real North Korea. You’ll be ferried from place to place — mostly within Pyongyang — with zero opportunity for independent exploration. You’ll only see what they allow you to see, in what I believe is a very tightly controlled tourist route.

Monuments And Squares

A trip to North Korea will most definitely involve visiting the sites they want you to see , such as Kim Il Sung Square, the Founding Party Monument, the captured US spy ship USS Pueblo, Kim Il Sung’s native home and many more. These are, what I would call, showpieces of the regime.

The Pyongyang Metro

At 110 metres underground, the Pyongyang metro is the deepest metro station in the world. Covered in propaganda, images of the Kim family, and with station names such as ‘Comrade’, ‘Glory’ and ‘Reunification’, North Korea’s metro is really quite an experience.

While it was definitely the most interesting metro journey I’ve ever been on, the whole scenario was somehow quite strange. You can only ride 5 of the 16 stops — perhaps there’s something secret beyond stop 5.

Tourists on the Pyongyang Metro, North Korea

The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is a strip of land running along the Korean Peninsula. It is used as a buffer zone between North and South Korea, and is 160 miles long and 2.5 miles wide.

While tourists can easily visit the DMZ in South Korea, this is a chance to see it from the other side and, of course, hear the story from North Korea’s perspective.

The Kaeson Funfair

The Kaeson Funfair was the only place we were allowed to wander around somewhat freely. Our guides let us mingle with the locals a little and stood guard along the pathways leading to the entry and exit points.

We were, however, told that we should skip all the queues and go straight onto any ride we wanted, because “we’re Western.” This annoyed me, as I didn’t feel that this presented a good view of us as Westerners to the citizens of North Korea. Perhaps they didn’t mind, but as a Brit, orderly queues are an essential part of my culture!

Is It Ethical To Visit North Korea?

This is the most important question you should ask yourself before visiting North Korea: is it ethical?

There is a view that visiting North Korea is potentially helping to fund the regime . I.e. that you’re helping to fund horrific human rights atrocities and nuclear programmes. However, I believe that the money North Korea receives from tourism is very small. With only 10,000 tourists a year, most of which are from China, how much can they really be making from this? It’s not like tourism in North Korea is a booming industry.

I also strongly believe that completely stripping a country of exposure to other cultures and attitudes is detrimental. Contact with the outside world helps to improve the citizens’ views of outsiders, which is a good thing since they’ve held a very bad view of the West for decades. Peace and progression within North Korea are certainly never going to occur if its citizens aren’t exposed to anything other than what they already know.

It’s certainly not a black-and-white answer and is something that you should consider carefully.

READ MORE: Is It Ethical To Visit North Korea?

About The Author

Lauren Pears is a freelance travel writer and blogger based in London. She writes about active adventure travel, aiming to encourage and inspire travellers to make the most of the great outdoors.

Thank you for reading! If you found this post useful, I’d be grateful if you would consider using the affiliate links below when planning your travels. I’ll make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This will help me to keep this blog running. Thanks for your support – Lauren. Hotels – Booking.com Hostels – Hostelworld Cheap flights – Skyscanner Travel insurance – World Nomads Outdoor gear – Decathlon / GO Outdoors Cycling gear – Chain Reaction Cycles Alternatively, you could buy me a coffee to say thanks!

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Is it Ethical to Visit North Korea?

Thanks a lot for your explanation Lauren this country is my dream to visit , however, I am terrified and nervous. and how I control myself.

I got curious about visiting North Korea since I saw a pic of someone else’s tour there. I didn’t even know it was possible to visit! But then my bubble burst since finding out that it has stopped since covid 🙁 anyways, thanks for writing this, it’s done plenty to satiate my curiosity for now haha

Thanks for reading Monica! Tours will likely open up again at some point in the future 🙂

very good and very detailed article.

Thanks John!

Very informative article on a unique topic, so much appreciated 🙂 I agree with the final message that there is a reciprocal value in connecting with people and cultures all around the world.

Glad you found it informative Lucas!

All You Need to Know About Travel to North Korea

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Can I Travel to North Korea? Yes, You Actually Can & Here’s How

Travel to North Korea is not something a lot of people have done. So there’s really not much information about travel to North Korea online. But, people actually do it. (There’s not many).

So why do people travel to North Korea? HOW do you travel to North Korea? And what should you expect once you’re there…

RELATED: I Have Been To North Korea Almost 30 Times & Counting, Why I Keep Going Back

Table of Contents

Who Travels to North Korea?

There are generally three different types of people that travel to North Korea.

Those glory seekers looking to tell a tale about the time they went to the ‘mysterious Hermit Kingdom’.
Those interested in communist and socialist countries.
Those who want to see the country for themselves instead of just through the eyes of the media.

Within these categories, you have all kinds of people. Different ages, social backgrounds, and different nationalities.

Aside from Chinese people, the most common nationality to see in North Korea are Brits, Germans, Australians, Dutch etc… And Americans – before the travel ban.

Yes, that’s right. Trump’s travel ban forbids US citizens from traveling to North Korea (sorry guys). But Biden has suggested that he may be lifting some of these bans. So let’s see!

For now, US citizens cannot go.

RELATED: The Curious Case Of North Korean Currency & Why It Is So Rare

HOW to Travel to the DPRK?

While most people don’t even know you can travel to North Korea, let’s explore the process of how you get there in the first place.

Firstly, you need to go through a tour company. There’s no other way to get into North Korea. No tour company, no visa, no entry. You will then book a tour through the tour company, depending on how many nights you want to stay, where you want to go etc. Tours normally include everything, from travel into the country, to the accommodation and full board. Although you can of course buy anything extra once you’re in North Korea.

The path to get there is through China. You can either take a plane or a train into North Korea, depending on your time and budget. There are also sometimes flights available from Russia and South-East Asian countries.

In North Korea

Rules & politics.

Once you’re in North Korea, you will be met by your North Korean guides. From the moment you arrive, you can’t walk around by yourself. You should always be accompanied by these guides. Contrary to popular opinion, these guides are not the glamorous ‘government minders’ that the media labels them to be. They are trained tour guides who have studied and worked hard to get where they are.

There are a lot more rules for your travel to North Korea, including rules on photography and what you should and shouldn’t do. You’ll get a full briefing from your tour company before you go into North Korea.

A lot of people are concerned with the safety of the trip. Basically, if you stick to the rules, you will be fine.

Can I Bring my Mobile Phone?

Yes, no problem! (But see below)

Can I Talk to Local North Koreans?

Yes, and no. You can try, but they probably won’t want to talk to you and if you don’t know Korean that’s going to be difficult anyway.

What if I Do Something Bad?

Everyone makes mistakes. If you accidentally break the rules once or twice (depending on what it is!) then that’s fine. A guide might pull you aside and mention it to you. If you do it again and again… Mistakes can only be mistakes for so long, and at some point it must be deliberate. Depending on what you do, you could get yourself, the group, or the guides into trouble. If you’re ever unsure, ask your guides!

Check Your Phone and Electronic Devices

You can bring your phone and laptop, but make sure to check your device before you go in. It is not permitted to have any religious material, Korean material, or anything to do with North Korea on you when you go in. Make sure to delete any Korean dramas you might have downloaded!

Where Can I Go?

Foreigners can currently visit all but one province in North Korea. Aside from city life in Pyongyang, you can head out to the countryside to enjoy skiing, hiking, and even going to the beach and swimming in the sea.

In Pyongyang, your visit will mainly comprise of visits to important historical sites and revolutionary sites, as well as famous monuments such as the Juche Tower and the Mansudae Grand Monuments (the big bronze statues).

Other than that, you might even get to go to some fun places like the bowling alley, you could go ice skating, to the spa, coffee shop, or local beer bar.

Seeing is Believing

Surprisingly, it’s not actually all fake! In fact, there is pretty much northing fake about it. It functions as a country and there are people living their lives – not acting – inside. But I suppose you might need to go there before you believe me on that one.

If you’re looking for all the action you get on the media, for example, rocket launches and military parades, you might be disappointed. Military parades happy very rarely, only on special occasions, and even then it is difficult to see as a foreigner.

Accommodation

What’s a North Korean hotel like?

A lot will tell you that all the tourists are put into the same hotel that sits on an island in the middle of the river so you can’t walk off easily. As glitzy as this Alcatraz-like theory is, we have to bust it, unfortunately. There’s over 10 hotels in Pyongyang alone where foreigners can stay – one even with a great view of the party headquarters.

The Alcatraz hotel is called Yanggakdo, and it’s probably one of the most popular hotels to stay in. It’s big, just got refurbished, and has a lot of facilities. It’s also in a convenient location and gives killer views of Pyongyang city in the morning.

The hotels in North Korea would have all been really nice and really fancy… 30 years ago. But they haven’t really had many makeovers since they were first built and therefore sit in a weird out-dated time capsule. Things break and fall off, sometimes there’s no hot water and blackouts do happen sometimes too. But this is much more frequent in the countryside.

Go with an open mind and embrace the “traditional meets kitsch” interiors with a pinch of salt.

Everyone’s favorite topic!

If you love Korean food, you’ll have no problem. If you’re up for trying different foods, you’ll also have no problem. But, if you’re a strict ‘will-only-eat-pizza-and-chips’ kind of person, you might want to re-think your trip to North Korea, or pack a lot of food.

The food in North Korea is plentiful. You eat in traditional Chinese/Korean style, having food presented in the middle of the table and everyone just grabbing a bit of everything. Food ranges from Bibimbap (fried rice) to noodles, sushi, and everything in between! (Apart from pizza and chips).

For those with dietary requirements, they can also cater for you. Just let them know in advance!

Can I Travel To North Korea Final Thoughts

A tour to North Korea is not for the faint-hearted. It’s not a beach holiday in Barbados or a shopping trip in New York. It’s action-packed and you’ll be on the move from 7am to 7pm at night – with some days being longer. You get your most out of the money, and more. But you will be tired. And, you’ll probably leave North Korea with more questions than answers.

Ultimately, I always come back to the same quote. North Korea is pleasantly underwhelming. You may be underwhelmed, in a good way. It’s pretty normal. But sometimes we go in with such prejudice about it from the media. So go in with a good mind and you’ll learn a lot, discover a lot, and want to find out a lot more.

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Very interesting, I wouldn’t have even considered it before. I would still prefer S Korea of course as it has all the amenities and protection I am looking for.a great write up. Have you been to Iran, I tried that a couple times as an American and my Visa was denied.

I agree with your comment. I visited S. Korea a couple of times, on business. Once I spent three months and enjoyed life in S. Korea. I stayed at the “Chosun Hotel” and enjoyed every minute of my stay in S. Korea. S. Koreans are so friendly and so helpful. Their Metro System is perfectly clean as well as all the passengers, but very crowded during business hours and smelly of “KIMSHY” that is very tasty. At mid-day and 06:00pm, Catholic Churches ring the bells and, surisingly, I watched the majority of pedestrians stopped, made the sign of the Cross and prayed for a few minutes, then proceed to walk. I never knew that in S. Korea there were such a great number of Catholics. During one of my trips, my Wife joined me for one month during Christmas and New Year Season. We went to the Catholic Cathedral for the mid-night Mass. The Cathedral was FULL, but they managed to find us two seats at the end of the Church. All of a sudden, the Photographers of a Television Channel observed us, they came staright to photograh us. Apparently, we were the only non-Asians at the Church and my wife was Blond. I love S. Koreans, I love their food, I love their efficiency and I made a lot of Friends.

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North Korea (DPRK)

Why should you choose Koryo Tours?

Choosing to travel to unusual destinations such as North Korea is a big decision, and choosing the right people to take you is an incredibly important part of that. Learn about how we facilitate tourism responsibly in some of the most interesting and unique destinations on our planet, and at the same time ensure you get the most out of your once-in-a-lifetime experience .

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A tour to North Korea (DPRK) is the ultimate in adventure travel. Join Koryo Tours as we explore Pyongyang and some of North Korea's most remote locations for an experience you'll never forget, all in the safe hands of North Korea tour experts.

Our North Korea tours are designed with the purpose of making sure you see and do as much as possible on tour in North Korea (DPRK). Touring this country is the opportunity of a lifetime for many, and we use our 28 years of North Korea experience to ensure you get the most out of your time there. We have classic , speciality , and budget North Korea tours scheduled throughout the year. Get in touch for help on deciding which North Korea tour is best for you. Our experts are happy to answer all your questions. Unsure if a North Korea group tour is for you? Read Why Choose a Koryo Tours Group Tour or contact us. Alternatively, head to our North Korea Private Tours and get in touch for a bespoke North Korea tour itinerary. North Korea Country Profile North Korea FAQs North Korea Map Note: We require all travellers on international and North Korea tours to have valid travel insurance . NOTICE: The North Korean border is currently closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Please check COVID-19 & North Korea for updated information. NO Tours to North Korea (DPRK) will be taking place until the border is open again. The tours below are planned departure dates but until the country is open to tourists again all tours will remain suspended.

Use the search function below to find tours. Please note that our tours for May Day start in April and tours for China National Day (1 October) start in September.

Pyongyang Marathon

Budget Tours

June 2024 — 2 tours, june 10 - june 14/15 2024.

Koryo North Korea Budget Tour Summer

4 nights in the DPRK + North Korea-China travel time

Beat the summer rush in the DPRK and join this North Korea budget tour! The best way to see highlights incl. city tour of Pyongyang, historic Kaesong, the DMZ, and Nampo on the West Coast From 845 EUR per person

Please apply by 29th May, 2024 .

Our North Korea Summer Budget Tour falls after the Tano Festival ('Dragon Boat Festival' in China), which marks the end of the planting season and the start of summer in North Korea. The pleasant scenery and warm weather of June traditionally made this the time for outdoor activities and festivals since ancient times.

This is an introductory trip to Korea for the frugal traveller in search of adventure, offering a no-frills alternative to our more advanced tours offers a great way to see a tightly edited package of the country’s most interesting sights, including a city tour of Pyongyang and a visit to Kaesong south of the 38th Parallel on the North-South border.

You’ll also visit the port town of Nampo and the West Sea Barrage , an engineering megaproject at the mouth of the Taedong River.

Scroll down for an overview of the North Korea Budget Tour highlights, tour itinerary, DPRK tourist visa information, and extra add-ons.

Koryo Tours International Tours

See Pyongyang highlights, including the Mansudae Grand Monument, the Pyongyang Metro, the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum, and USS Pueblo
Historic Kaesong south of the 38th Parallel
Get out of the capital, to the port city of Nampo, a centre of trade and industry

Briefing Day

June 9 | sunday.

*Pre-Tour Briefing | We require all travellers to attend a pre-tour briefing that covers regulations, etiquette, safety, and practicalities for travel in North Korea. The briefing lasts approximately one hour followed by a question and answer session. Please be punctual for the briefing. You can come early, meet your fellow travellers, and pay any outstanding tour fees. A proper briefing is an essential part of travel to North Korea. For this tour, we will hold two briefings. One in the morning for those departing by train this afternoon and the other in the afternoon for those departing by flight the next day.

Recommended latest arrival in Beijing.
10:00 | Briefing for those departing by train.
16:00 | Briefing for those departing by flight.
17:26 | Train travellers depart Beijing Station by Chinese domestic sleeper train to Dandong , the Chinese city on the border with North Korea. Please arrange independent travel to the train station and arrive at least an hour and a half early for the train departure.

Overnight | Hotel in Beijing not included in the tour for those taking the flight the next day. Contact us for recommendations near our office! Those travelling by train will spend the night on the train.

June 10 | Monday

Arrival day in Pyongyang

Train transfer at Dandong Station from overnight sleeper train to Dandong-Pyongyang local. Our local representative in Dandong will assist with the transfer. Train crosses the China-North Korea border followed by North Korean customs and immigration.
Flight departure from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) Terminal 2 on Air Koryo flight JS152 at 12:20. A 1.5-hour flight with basic lunch ( vegetarian option is subject to availability). Check-in starts 3 hours prior to departure.
Flight arrival to Pyongyang's Sunan International Airport (FNJ) at 15:20. DPRK immigration and customs, meet your Korean guides and transfer to the city.
Grand People’s Study House | Huge national library and public university housed in a large neo-traditional Korean building overlooking Kim Il Sung Square and the downtown Pyongyang.
Victory (Sungni) Street | Walk from Kim Il Sung Square to the Pyongyang Grand Theatre along one of post-war Pyongyang's oldest streets.
Train arrival to Pyongyang Railway Station at 18:45.

Overnight: Ryanggang Hotel, Pyongyang | The Two Rivers Hotel (so named as it sits on a hill overlooking the point where the Potong river and Taedong Rivers meet). The hotel offers great views over different parts of the city (depending on which side of the building you stay on) from the open balconies, and also from the ‘swivelling’ restaurant. The underground karaoke room here is excellent and the bar in the lobby is also great.

June 11 | Tuesday

Pyongyang City Tour

Optional morning run for the early risers on Sports Street past stadiums and halls whose architecture reflects the sports played within.
Pyongyang Metro Tour | One of the deepest metro systems in the world with stunning artwork reflecting the name of each station. Ride six stations on the Chollima Line.
Arch of Triumph | A 60-m archway commemorating the liberation of Korea from Japanese colonial rule and larger than its counterpart in Paris.
Mansudae Fountain Park | The historic centre of Pyongyang popular with local citizens after school and on weekends. Flanked by examples of ancient and modern architecture from different eras.
Mansudae Grand Monument | Enormous bronze statues of the DPRK leadership overlooking downtown Pyongyang. A presentation of flowers and bow by the group is customary here. Visitations are by special request only and decent dress is required. No shorts or flip-flop sandals allowed here.
Foreign Languages Bookshop | Store selling Korean publications translated into English, German, French, Russian, Chinese, and Spanish. Also pick up DVDs, postcards, and small works of art.
Kim Il Sung Square | Pyongyang’s central square lined with government ministries, museum and The Grand People’s Study House, Korea’s national library. See the centre of it all!
Okryugwan | A meal at Pyongyang’s most famous restaurant. Housed in a huge traditional building on the banks of the Taedong River. Okryugwan specialises in Pyongyang Cold Noodles.
Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum and USS Pueblo | We’ll tour this world-class museum led by a local museum guide. Renovated in 2012 and its exhibits of Korean War from the DPRK perspective containing artifacts, documents, photos, and lifelike dioramas. The exterior grounds house the War Victory Monument and displays of Korean People’s Army Hero Equipment and captures equipment from the US military, including the spyship USS Pueblo . Central to the understanding of the country today and a highlight of the trip.
Drive south on the Pyongyang-Kaesong (formerly known as Reunification) Motorway to Kaesong , historic capital of the medieval Koryo Dynasty (918-1392 AD). Once located in South Korea, the city changed hands during the Korean War. It is now located just north of the DMZ.
Dinner with a live Kayagum performance - a traditional Korean instrument in a unique setting!

Overnight: Minsok Folk Hotel , Kaesong | Traditional style hotel where guests sleep on heated floors in Korean style. Housed in beautiful courtyards of Kaesong’s old city, structures date back to the Ri Dynasty. Basic bathroom facilities. Hot water not guaranteed and erratic electricity supply – please bring a torch.

June 12 | Wednesday

Historic Kaesong and the Joint Security Area (*Please note that due to the current political situation and recent chenges, it is our understanding that visits to Panmunjom and the JSA as well as to the Concrete Wall is not possible at least until further notice. If that is the case at the time of our vist we will visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kaesong as well a ginseng factory .)

Old City Walk and South Gate | A stroll from the hotel through Kaesong’s historic district lined with homes dating back to the Ri Dynasty from the city’s historic South Gate.
Panmunjom Armistice Village and DMZ ( *Currently suspended ) | The site of the signing of the 1953 armistice that ended the Korean War and demarcation line between north and south. On some days it is possible to visit the hut straddling the line, where negotiations between both sides once took place. Here we will be accompanied by military guides from the Korean People's Army.
Kaesong Koryo Museum | Once the Songgyung Academy, a Confucian school, and now a museum on the Koryo Dynasty exhibiting historical objects, statues, pagodas, and porcelain from that era. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Kaesong Korean Stamp Exhibition Hall | Store selling stamps, postcards, local ginseng , souvenirs, art, and more! One of the best postcard collections in the country and friendly staff.
Traditional Royal Korean Lunch ( pangsanggi ) | A meal made of 12 dishes served in brass bowls fit for the kings of old. The more dishes, the more distinguished the guest! Traditional Korean 'sweet meat soup' is an option here ( 5 EUR ).
Janam Hill | Statues of the DPRK leadership on a hill overlooking Kaesong city and historic pavilion used for archery demonstrations in days of yore.
Concrete Wall and view of DMZ ( *Currently suspended ) | View of a complex fortification system erected on the southern boundary of the DMZ accompanied by a military guide. The wall is seen as evidence of intent to permanently divide the nation. A 45 minute drive each way from Kaesong through scenic countryside.
Drive back to Pyongyang . A 3-hour drive.
Kwangbok Department Store | Exchange for Korean currency and shop with the citizens of Pyongyang! Try the snack stands for some of Pyongyang’s best local eats.

Overnight: Ryanggang Hotel, Pyongyang

June 13 | Thursday

Nampo and Pyongyang City Tour

Mangyongdae Native House | Birthplace and childhood home of President Kim Il Sung. A traditional Korean house in a beautiful natural surrounding.
Drive west along the ‘Youth Hero Highway’ to Nampo (45 minutes to 1-hour drive), the port city of Pyongyang at the mouth of the Taedong River on the West Sea.
Chongsan-ri Co-Operative Farm | The DPRK’s most famous and iconic model farm. Visited hundreds of times by Kim Il Sung (there is a bronze statue of him and various farm workers here), the place where the ‘Chongsan-ri Method’ was developed (they will explain on-site). See how the farming system works, visit a farmhouse and the local shop,and kindergarten, see the fields and greenhouses.
West Sea Barrage | An 8 km concrete, steel, and earthen barrage constructed between the Taedong River estuary and the West Sea for land reclamation, irrigation, flood prevention, and power generation. It also acts as a ship lock and fish ladder. One of the DPRK’s greatest engineering feats.
Pi Island | A local beach next to West Sea Barrage. Go for a swim or join the locals for a karaoke ( weather permitting ).
Tae’an Glass Factory | Factory producing glass and glass products for the domestic market. Watch the glass-making process from smelting to sheet-cutting and even try to break a sheet of strengthened glass.
Drive back to Pyongyang .
Party Foundation Monument | Iconic Monument made up of stone depictions of hands gripping the hammer, sickle, and writing brush – symbols of the Workers’ Party of Korea. Built in 1995 for the 40th anniversary of the Party.
Tower of the Juche Idea | Iconic tower dedicated to the DPRK’s guiding philosophy on the Taedong River. Take the elevator to the top for great views of the city ( elevator ticket is 5 EUR).
Taedonggang Bar No. 3 | Upscale bar across the street from the Tower of the Juche Idea. There are a variety of beers on tap produced at Pyongyang’s Taedonggang Brewery outside of town ( 2-2.5 EUR per glass ).
Farewell dinner at Duck BBQ Restaurant | Famous restaurant in south Pyongyang specializing in duck meat barbecue on a grill. Southcentral does it like nobody does!

June 14 | Friday

Departure Day from Pyongyang and Return to Beijing by flight or train. Please confirm your preferred transport method upon booking.

Flight departure from Pyongyang on Air Koryo Flight JS151 at 09:00 with scheduled arrival at Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) Terminal 2 at 10:20.
Train departure by train to Beijing at 10:25 with transfer in Dandong. The scheduled arrival is to Beijing Station on Saturday June 15 at 08:40. For this tour the default option is hard sleeper (six beds per berth).

End of Tour

Transport | Train and Flights to North Korea (Standard)

This tour travels between Beijing-Pyongyang by train each way in a hard-sleeper carriage (6 bunks per compartment). The train journey takes 24 hours with a transfer at the city of Dandong. One-way or round-trip flights are also available. The flight takes around 90 minutes. For an extra 199 EUR you can upgrade to a one-way flight. A round-trip ticket costs an additional 299 EUR.

Visit the DPRK border town of Sinuiju

If you're heading back to Beijing by train this option lets you get off for an overnight in Dongrim before the next day's tour of Sinuiju — the border city with China. Spend an extra 24 hours in the DPRK seeing the sites of North Pyongan province. You will then continue on through to Beijing.

Visit Dandong — the Chinese gateway to the DPRK

Instead of immediately returning to Beijing when your tour ends you can take some extra time to visit this fascinating border city, which directly faces the DPRK town of Sinuiju, but lies on the Chinese side of the Yalu River. We offer both one-night and two-night fully guided extensions that take in all the sights of Dandong, with a special North Korea theme.

Upgrade to your own room

All hotel rooms on our all-inclusive group tours feature twin beds, and will be shared. If you'd like a room to yourself then you can upgrade for an extra 40 EUR per night.

Insurance for up to six nights

We're unable to take you on one of our tours if you do not have medical insurance that covers the destination in question. Issues of isolation and infrastructure where we go mean it would be irresponsible of us to do so. We can provide this if you do not have it — or you can use your own.

What is / is not included?

Train travel Pyongyang – Beijing – Pyongyang by hard sleeper class with transfer in Dandong
All meals on the tour apart from meals on the train
Hotel accommodation in North Korea
Two local English-speaking Korean guides and a driver per group
A Koryo Tours tour leader
All transportation in North Korea

NOT INCLUDED

DPRK visa fee 60 EUR
Optional Air Koryo flights (one-way: 199 EUR; return: 299 EUR)
Optional single room supplement of 40 EUR per night
Tips for the local Korean guides and driver (approx 10-15 EUR per day)
Optional activities such as the lift up the Juche Tower (5 EUR) or a visit to the funfair (approx. 2 EUR entrance fee per person)
Entry tickets for special events if applicable – for example Pyongyang Circus (approx. 20 EUR per person) or film screening (approx. 10 EUR)
Meals include a complimentary beer and water, but you will need to purchase extra drinks if needed
Spending money for souvenirs
SINUIJU EXTENSION: RMB 50 for the bus across the bridge to Dandong to be paid on the spot to the local guides

Groups will be in the experienced hands of two or three local Korean guides and a Koryo Tours tour leader. Please note that when on tour your day-to-day itinerary may differ to what is advertised above. Your tour leader will ensure, however, that everything available at the time is covered, and replacement options are provided where needed. We will also add in extras when there is time (such as a visit to a local bar or amusement park).

We visit the DPRK regularly so know all the best places to go, and how to make the most of your days there to guarantee the experience of a lifetime. After the tour, we will send out a list of all participants' emails so you can keep in touch, swap photos etc. If you do not wish to be on this list then please let us know.

June 29 - July 6/7 2024

The Summer Holiday Tour in North Korea

7 nights in North Korea + Beijing-Pyongyang travel time

Discover North Korea’s rarely visited East coast from the industrial centre of Hamhung to the hiking trails of Mt. Kumgang From 1495 EUR per person

Please apply by 17th June, 2024 .

Sun, sea, and sand… Yes, that’s right!

North Korea may not be known as a summer get-away, or indeed known for its beaches, but we think a summer package holiday in North Korea is far too underrated, and one of the best holiday destinations to give you one of the most unforgettable trips of a lifetime. Plus, you won’t have to worry about tourists crowding the beaches!

Our Summer Holiday Tour is an annual favourite which gives you the highlights of North Korea – and more. This includes exploring the capital Pyongyang and historic Kaesong on the Korean Demilitarised Zone on the North-South Korea border, while also taking time to see the country's rarely visited east coast.

On the east coast, you will see the port city of Wonsan and the industrial centre of Hamhung , while having the chance to explore the hiking trails in Mt Kumgang . The weather is beautiful at this time of year – warm during the day but not too hot, making it one of the best holiday destinations this summer!

Scroll down for an overview of our Summer Holiday tour package highlights, tour itinerary, transport options , DPRK tourist visa information, and extra add-ons.

Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum: World-class museum of the Korean War and site of the captured USS Pueblo
Hamhung Fertiliser Plant: Giant chemical-industrial complex vital to DPRK agriculture
Mt. Kumgang: The 'Diamond Mountain'. Breathtaking views and the best hiking in the DPRK

28 June | Friday

29 june | saturday.

Flight departure from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) Terminal 2 on Air Koryo flight JS152 at 13:05. A 1.5-hour flight with basic lunch ( vegetarian option is subject to availability). Check-in starts 3 hours prior to departure.
Flight arrival to Pyongyang's Sunan International Airport (FNJ) at 16:05. DPRK immigration and customs, meet your Korean guides and transfer to the city.
Kim Il Sung Square | Pyongyang’s central square lined with government ministries, museums, and The Grand People’s Study House.
Train arrival to Pyongyang Railway Station at 18:45.
Walk on Future Scientists' Street | An evening stroll through one of Pyongyang's newest neighbourhoods.

Overnight: Yanggakdo International Hotel , Pyongyang | Home away from home for most (but not all!) foreign visitors to Pyongyang, this 47-story hotel is located on an island in the middle of the Taedong River and offers great views of the city. Comfortable rooms and comprehensive leisure facilities: swimming pool, spa, billiards, bowling, gift shops, tea houses, beer brewed on-site, and a Chinese-run casino.

30 June | Sunday

Sunday in Pyongyang and drive to Kaesong

Moranbong Park | We’ll take a stroll in Pyongyang’s central park popular with locals for picnics, dances, and sports. The park is filled with historic pavilions, walls, and monuments – modern and ancient, a few of which are among the traditional ‘Eight Great Sights of Pyongyang’.
Kwangbok Department Store | Exchange for Korean currency and shop with the citizens of Pyongyang! Try the snack stands for some of Pyongyang’s best local eats.
Mangyongdae Native House | Birthplace and childhood home of President Kim Il Sung. A traditional Korean house in a beautiful natural surrounding.

Tower of the Juche Idea | Iconic tower is dedicated to the DPRK’s guiding philosophy on the Taedong River. Take the elevator to the top for 5 EUR for great views of the city.

1 July | Monday

Kaesong Korean Stamp Exhibition Hall | Store selling stamps, postcards, local ginseng , souvenirs, art, and more! One of the best postcard collections in the country and friendly staff.
Traditional Royal Korean Lunch ( pangsanggi ) | A meal made of 12 dishes served in brass bowls fit for the kings of old. The more dishes, the more distinguished the guest! Traditional Korean 'sweet meat soup' is an option here ( 5 EUR ).
Sonjuk Bridge | Small stone bridge built in 1290, which in 1392 was the site of the assassination of the last loyal Koryo Dynasty minister Jong Mong Ju by a son of Ri Song Gye (founder of the next, and final, dynasty). This bloody act extinguished the Koryo which had ruled over Korea for 474 years and is said to have left a permanent mark on the bridge that can be seen to this day.
Drive back to Pyongyang . A 3-hour drive.
Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum and USS Pueblo | We’ll tour this world-class museum led by a local museum guide. Renovated in 2012 and its exhibits of Korean War from the DPRK perspective containing artifacts, documents, photos, and lifelike dioramas. The exterior grounds house the War Victory Monument and displays of Korean People’s Army Hero Equipment and captures equipment from the US military, including the spyship USS Pueblo . Central to the understanding of the country today and highlight of the trip.
Mansugyo Beer Bar | A beer bar serving seven types of beer. Popular with locals after work and on weekends. Best place to drink pints with local people.

Evening walk on Ryomyong Street | Pyongyang's newest futuristic neighbourhood.

Overnight: Yanggakdo International Hotel, Pyongyang

2 July | Tuesday

Drive to Hamhung

Drive east across the width of the peninsula before heading north to Hamhung , the second largest city of the DPRK and major centre of industry. A 7 to 8-hour drive.

Stop by Sinpyong Lake Guesthouse to stretch your legs at this lakeside teahouse beneath rocky crags.

Ulim Waterfall for a picnic lunch | Hidden amongst the mountains on the road to Wonsan, ‘Echo’ Waterfall is a scenic stopover to enjoy lunch, stretch your legs, or go for a dip in the pool beneath.
Tongbong Co-operative Farm | Local farm in the outskirts of Hamhung. View the machinery barn, a local home, and the farm shop to buy some locally made products.

Home of Ri Song Gye | Home of the first king of the Ri Dynasty (1392-1910) who extinguished the Koryo Dynasty, only to be then ousted by his own son. A traditional hall and pavilion and associated naughty stories of the former king’s retirement years – some not appropriate for the youth!

Overnight: Majon Beach Guesthouse , Hamhung | A beachside holiday compound with basic but comfortable chalets. Rooms have heated floors but no running water. Bring a torch! There is a main building with restaurant, bar, billiards, table-tennis, bookshop, and Korean karaoke.

3 July | Wednesday

Hamhung and Wonsan AM

Hungnam Fertiliser Factory | Massive chemical-industrial plant producing various kinds of fertilisers. Tour of the plant control room, production facilities, and packing plant – just don’t light up next to the Ammonium Nitrate!

Hamhung Grand Theatre and Central Square | Exterior view of the DPRK’s largest theatre on the city’s central square.

Tonghung Revolutionary Site | Hillside park with statues of the DPRK leadership overlooking Hamhung city centre and Songchon River. A presentation of flowers is customary.

Drive south to Wonsan , a major port city on the East Sea of Korea. A 2.5 - 3-hour drive .
Wonsan Agricultural University | The DPRK’s premier agricultural university set among beautiful hillside scenery. Tour the grounds and the neo-Romanesque teaching hall, originally built by Germans living in the area in the early 20th century.
Songdowon International Schoolchildren’s Camp | A classic socialist summer camp where Korean and international children can spend two weeks learning socialist values and teamwork. Tour the recently renovated dormitories, aquarium, birdhouse, gymnasium, and more!
Wonsan City Centre and Docks | Central square and ship terminal in downtown Wonsan. The Mangyongbong-92 ferry/cargo ship which one shuttled Koreans living in Japan back and forth across the East Sea of Korea is moored here.
Jangdok Island and Lighthouse | Take a stroll on the breakwater to a small island in the middle of Wonsan harbour ( 1 EUR/USD entry fee ).

Overnight: Dongmyong Hotel , Wonsan | Waterfront hotel with stunning seaside views of Wonsan Harbor. Limited hours of hot water, bar, billiards, ping-pong, barber shop, beauty salon, dry sauna, and indoor seawater swimming pool.

4 July | Thursday

Mt. Kumgang, the 'Diamond Mountain'

Kangwon Province Art Gallery | Small art exhibition selling artwork by local artists, where you can purchase paintings.
Drive south along the East Sea coast to the scenic Mt. Kumgang , the ‘Diamond Mountain’ noted in East Asian history and famous in Korean legends. Home of some of Korea’s most spectacular natural landscapes and best hiking. A 2.5 - 3-hour drive .
Sokwang Temple | Remains of a Buddhist temple established dating back to the late-14th century and associated with the dream that predicted the fall of the Koryo Dynasty. A historic and haunting place set in a serene mountain valley with stream.
Samil Lagoon | A charming green-water coastal lagoon lined by pine forests. Named for the ‘three-day’ stay (sam-il) of a king in days-gone-by to take in the full beauty of the area.

Overnight: Kumgangsan Hotel , Mt. Kumgang | A very comfortable, clean and well equipped hotel. Bar, billiards, massage and a great terrace with barbecue options.

5 July | Friday

Mt. Kumgang hiking and drive back to Pyongyang with stops along the way. AM

Hiking in the Mt Kumgang area | ‘The Diamond Mountain’ – a series of peaks and canyons rising above Korea’s eastern seaboard and regarded since time immemorial as one of the most scenic regions in East Asia. An 8 km (round-trip) hike to a scenic ‘Nine-Dragons’ waterfall will take us through forests, along mountain streams and by emerald pools.
Drive back up the coast to Wonsan with a rest stop at Lake Sinjung.
Continue driving to Pyongyang (approx 4 hours drive) with a stop at Masik Pass Ski Resort , the DPRK’s largest ski resort. Opened in 2013, Masik Pass features nine main runs, two beginner slopes, and a lodge with full amenities.
Monument to the Party Foundation | Iconic structure featuring the hammer, sickle, writing brush which make up the emblem of the Worker’s Party of Korea and represent workers, farmers, and intellectuals.
Delicious farewell dinner.

Overnight | Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang

6 July | Saturday

Flight departure from Pyongyang on Air Koryo Flight JS 151 at 08:30 with scheduled arrival at Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) Terminal 2 at 09:50.
Train departure by train to Beijing at 10:25 with transfer in Dandong. The scheduled arrival is to Beijing Station on Sunday, 7 July at 08:40. For this tour the default option is hard sleeper (six beds per berth).

Insurance (7 to 9 nights)

Return train Beijing – Pyongyang – Beijing with transfers at Dandong
All meals on the tour apart from the meals on the train
Hotel accommodation
Koryo Tours tour leader
Two local Korean guides, and a driver per group
North Korean visa fee 60 EUR
Optional Air Koryo flights (one-way: 199 EUR; round-trip: 299EUR)
Optional single room supplement (40 EUR per night)
Entry tickets for special events if applicable – for example Pyongyang Circus (approx. 20 EUR per person)
Sinuiju Extension: RMB 50 for the bus across the bridge to Dandong to be paid on the spot to the local guides

Groups will be in the experienced hands of two or three local Korean guides and an experienced Koryo Tours tour leader . Please note that when on tour your day-to-day itinerary may differ slightly to what is advertised above. Your tour leader will ensure, however, that everything available at the time is covered, and replacement options are provided where needed. We will also add in extras when there is time (such as a visit to a local bar or amusement park).

We visit North Korea regularly so know all the best places to go, and how to make the most of your days there to guarantee the experience of a lifetime. After the tour, we will send out a list of all participants' emails so you can keep in touch, swap photos etc. If you do not wish to be on this list then please let us know.

July 2024 — 2 tours

August 2024 — 3 tours, september 2024 — 6 tours, october 2024 — 2 tours, november 2024 — 1 tour, december 2024 — 2 tours, january 2025 — 2 tours, february 2025 — 2 tours, march 2025 — 1 tour, april 2025 — 2 tours, next tour departure dates, east pyongyang.

As seen from the top of the Juche Tower - this is a mainly residential district

Mass Dance - Pyongyang

Mass Dances are held on all major holidays. particpants number from 3000 to 50,000. Tourists can even join in!

Ryugyong Hotel - Pyongyang

Iconic 105-storey building towering over the capital. Koryo Tours have even been to the top of this!

Farming - East Coast

Korea is mainly mountains but has farmland too - a trip to the countryside gives a sense of what rural life is like

Youth Funfair - Pyongyang

A great place to visit in the evening, popular with locals and with all Italian-made rides

Fishing Village - East Coast

Bounded by seas to east and west the villages along the coasts are mainly populated by fishermen catching all manner of seafood

Kwangbok Street - Pyongyang

One of Pyongyang's famous mega-highways. with a dozen lanes accommodating far more cars than ever need to use it

Reunification Monument

On the road from the capital heading south - this monument symbolises ongoing hopes for peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula

People's Theatre - Pyongyang

Home of the famous Moranbong Band - the DPRK's iconic rock/pop/ensemble

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Young Pioneer Tours

Can North Koreans Travel Abroad?

Updated January 1st 2024

One of the questions we often get asked as guides is can North Koreans travel abroad? The simple short answer, like most things in the DPRK, is somewhat complex. Much like in other Soviet, socialist, or Eastern Bloc countries, North Koreans can travel abroad with permission from the government. If you have been on tour to North Korea with us before it is not uncommon, either at Dandong Station or the Air Koryo Check-in Counter, at Beijing Capital Airport Terminal 2 to see scores of North Koreans travelling home often with boxes and boxes of goods to take back home with them.

What do North Koreans need to travel abroad?

When it comes to North Korean travel abroad the system is different to what we might be used to ans more in line with other and former socialist states.

North Koreans need an exit stamp to leave, as well as needed a rerentrance interview when they get back to the DPRK. The socialist reason for this is that the country have invested in educating the citizen, sow when North Koreans travel abroad the country needs to be sure they will not defect.

The interview on their return to the country is more related to making sure they have not become capitalist-roaders. .

Why do North Koreans Travel Abroad?

The most common reasons for North Koreans to be travelling abroad are for work, business, trade or to study.

Working Abroad

Contrary to popular belief a lot of North Koreans work abroad; labourers in Russia , chefs and waitresses in North Korean restaurants especially in Dandong and footballers in foreign leagues (such as Japan and Russia) all fly the DPRK flag beyond its borders.

Students Abroad

There is a large number of North Korean students abroad, especially in China. These students are often studying Chinese language or sciences such as chemistry and physics. Beijing, Shenyang and Yangji all have massive North Korean student populations.

Embassies Abroad

North Korea has almost 60 overseas missions , all operated by North Korean consular staff. Countries that have North Korean embassies include the United Kingdom , Germany , Italy, Spain, Singapore, Thailand, to name a few. If you are a citizen of a country with a North Korean embassy, it is even possible to get the North Korean visa sticker issued in your passport before your trip to the country. If you are visiting a country with a North Korean embassy and missing North Korean food such as Pyongyang cold noodles , make sure to check the area around the embassy as you can often find North Korean restaurants that cater to the embassy staff.

North Koreans Abroad in New York City

There is a small contingency of North Koreans living in New York City working at the countries mission to the United Nations .

Do North Koreans travel abroad for leisure?

It is not common for most North Koreans to travel abroad for the sole purpose of leisure or vacation. This does not mean, however, that when they go on business or study abroad, they do not reserve time for leisure. North Koreans also take time in the sights, sounds and culinary of the destination they are in. Sometimes, this is even arranged as a part of the trip. For example, some of our partners in Pyongyang attended a tourism conference in Hanoi, Vietnam, a few years back. They were very eager to show us photos of the boat cruise they took in Halong Bay at the end of the conference.

North Korean Athletes Abroad

Again against popular belief, there are a few North Korean athletes who have played for teams abroad and North Korea has been represented on the Olympic stage since 1964.

North Korea at the Olympics

North Korea participated in their first Olympic Games in 1964 at the Winter Olympics. Eight years later in 1972 North Korea joined their first Summer Olympics and have participated in every game since except when North Korea joined the Soviet boycott of the games in 1984 and the 1988 Olympics in South Korea.

In the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, the North and South Korean teams marched together at the opening ceremonies, but competed in the games with separate teams.

In 2018 North Korea sent twenty-two athletes to the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang South Korea and a delegation of 400 supporters.

As of 2020 North Korean Athletes have won a total of 56 medals on the world stage.

Ri Myung – Hun

Perhaps one of the best known North Korean athletes Ri Myung – Hun played center position for the DPRK’s National Basketball Team and had aspirations of playing abroad in the NBA. Standing 7’8 ½” (2.35 m) tall Ri participated in basketball training in Canada, but unfortunately was unable to play in the NBA due to the United States ban on trade with North Korea.

North Korean Football Players Abroad

As the North Korean National Football Team and the program has developed over the years, so has the amount of North Korean football players making the leap to foreign teams, especially in Europe and Asia.

The most prominent player as of late to make the leap is Han Kwang Song .

Han Kwang Song was born on 11 September 1998 in Pyongyang North Korea and is currently playing as a forward for Qatari club Al-Duhail and the North Korea national team.

He was signed in 2017 by Cagliari Calcio and, at just 19, was a member of their academy side. He soon made his debut for the first team playing the last 5 minutes of a 3-1 win over Palermo, thus becoming the first-ever North Korean to play in Italy’s premier division — Serie A.

Only one week later, he scored his first goal for the club — in a 3-2 defeat to Torino — becoming the first-ever North Korean to score in Serie A.

North Korean Diaspora

Whilst it might surprise many there are quite a few member of what might be called a North Korean diaspora around the world. These are to be considered unique from refugees who cannot go back to North Korea, as well as Chongyron Koreans in Japan.

The diaspora exists mostly in China, the Russian federation and the former USSR. These North Koreans can travel and live abroad, as well as have the ability to go back to the DPRK to visit family and the like.

Do North Korean’s Travel Domestically?

Yes, they do. This is one of the fastest-growing markets within North Korea right now. There is a number of travel companies over the last few years setting up focusing only on domestic tourism. As the country and its people continue to have more disposable, the desire to see parts of their own country has grown highly. Some of the most popular places for North Koreans to travel domestically are Maskikryong Ski Resort , Wonsan Beach , Kumgangsan Mountain range , Chilbosan Mountain Range and, of course, the ever sacred Mount Paektu .

The past few years have seen even more places open for North Koreans to travel to. Samjiyon City and the Yangdok Hot Spring Resort to mention a few.

Can North Koreans travel abroad? Defectors

Of course when it comes to if North Koreans can travel abroad you have to deal with the issues of defectors. Defectors from North Korea tend to do so via China, although of they are caught they are returned home. Those that do get through tend go via Thailand, or Vietnam before settling in the Republic of Korea.

So there you have it. Yes, it is possible for North Koreans to travel abroad and if you spend enough time in places like China or Russia you will most likely at some point run into a North Korean.

Can North Korean defectors go back to North Korea?

In recent years theere have been a number of “re-defections” whereby people want to go back to North Korea. One famous one of course brough Covid-19 to the country. The DPRK actually welcomes these people and there is no evidence that they are treated badly.

Perversely it is the Republic of Korea, or third countries that do not allow this to happen. So, if North Koreans travel without going through official channels, then they risk not being able to come back if they change their minds.

Could North Koreans return home during Covid-19?

During the Covid-19 pandemic North Korea became essentially the most closed country on earth. They were for all intents the first country to close and the last country to reopen their borders. During this period North Koreans could mot travel abroad, including those North Koreans who would usually be allowed to travel.

This also included North Koreans not being allowed back into their own country during this period, something that has finally started to change recently.

Can North Koreans travel abroad in 2024?

So, while North Koreans could not travel abroad from 2020 to most of 2024 this has now slowly started to change. In June of this year two flights were allowed into the county and since then commercial routes have been reintroduced from both Beijing and Vladivostok to Pyongyang.

So, can North Koreans travel abroad in 2024? Yes they can, but still with some Covid-19 based restrictions, although it should also be noted that a certain Marshall Kim Jong-Un recently popped over to Russia by train.

We are though always ready and indeed waiting for North Korea to fully reopen to tourism. To see North Korea for yourself join us on one of many of our group tours.

About Post Author

Gareth Johnson

Gareth Johnson is the founder of Young Pioneer Tours and has visited over 180+ countries. His passion is opening obscure destinations to tourism and sharing his experience of street food.

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North Korea sends a delegation to Iran in a growing effort to break its diplomatic isolation

North korea iran.

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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A high-level North Korean economic delegation was on its way to Iran, the North's state media said Wednesday, for what would be the two countries’ first known talks since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Embracing the idea of a “new Cold War,” North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is pushing to build up cooperation with countries confronting the United States, as his intensified weapons tests prompted the U.S. and South Korea to expand their military drills.

Pyongyang's delegation led by Yun Jung Ho, North Korea’s minster of external economic relations, flew out Tuesday for the trip to Iran, official Korean Central News Agency said Wednesday. State media did not immediately provide further details.

Pyongyang and Tehran are among the few governments in the world that support Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and both have been accused of providing Russia with military equipment .

The last known time North Korea sent senior officials to Iran was in August 2019, when a group led by Pak Chol Min, vice chair of Pyongyang’s rubber-stamp parliament, made a weeklong visit. The two countries had active diplomatic exchanges until North Korea sealed its borders in an effort to stave off the pandemic, before a cautious reopening in 2023.

South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which handles affairs with the North, did not immediately comment Yun’s visit to Iran.

North Korea has made efforts for months to boost the visibility of its ties with Russia and China as Kim attempts to break out of diplomatic isolation and join a united front against the U.S.

In 2023, Kim visited Russia’s Far East for a rare summit with Putin , which highlighted the countries’ expanding military cooperation, including the North’s alleged transfers of artillery shells, missiles, and other munitions to Russia.

Earlier this month, Kim hosted top Chinese official Zhao Leji , who heads the ceremonial parliament and ranks third in the ruling Communist Party hierarchy. It was the highest-level meeting between the countries in years.

On Wednesday, Kim Yo Jong , the North Korean leader’s powerful sister, slammed the latest rounds of U.S.-South Korean joint military drills and insisted that the allies will never break the North’s determination to build up “our overwhelming and most powerful military muscle.”

The statement comes a week after U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield called for the international community to be alert to the possibility of military cooperation between North Korea, Iran and Russia. Iran has been accused of providing drones to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine.

“We are concerned about … the Iranians providing weapons to the Russians and the Russians also supporting efforts to help (North Korea) expand their own research into developing weapons. And certainly, that would be the case with Iran as well,” she said.

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House Responds to Israeli-Iranian Missile Exchange by Taking Rights Away from Americans

A measure passed by the House seeks to block Americans from traveling to Iran on U.S. passports.

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Civil liberties groups are raising alarms about a bill making its way through Congress that applies pressure for a ban on travel to Iran for Americans using U.S. passports. The rights groups see the bill as part of a growing attempt to control the travel of American citizens and bar Iranian Americans in particular from maintaining connections with friends and loved ones inside Iran.

“If you’re an American citizen, the government should not be controlling where you can travel.”

“This bill is very concerning because it’s the beginning of a process of criminalizing something that is very normal for many people, which is traveling to Iran,” said Ryan Costello, policy director at the National Iranian American Council. “If you’re an American citizen, the government should not be controlling where you can travel.”

Along with a flurry of other sanctions bills targeting Iran, the bill calling for the travel restrictions passed the U.S. House last week. The bill is now slated to come before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Introduced last fall, the No Paydays for Hostage-Takers Act languished until tensions between Iran and Israel escalated into a series of reciprocal attacks earlier this month.

Among other provisions, the bill seeks to bar U.S. passport holders from traveling to Iran by rendering their passports invalid for such travel. Though the prohibition would need to be enacted by the State Department, the legislative proposal effectively encourages the move and, as with other sanctions against Iran, waiving the authority to enact the ban could incur political costs.

If Donald Trump wins a second White House term, a distinct possibility according to polls, the invocation of the travel ban would be likely. In his first term, Trump imposed the so-called Muslim ban on travel to the U.S. for Iranians, among other nationalities, and has promised to reimpose it if elected again .

The idea of banning travel to Iran on American passports was raised last September by former Trump State Department official Elliott Abrams, a right-wing hawk with a controversial history that includes covering up a Central American massacre and involvement in the Iran–Contra scandal.

Trump Revives “Muslim Ban” While GOP Courts Muslim Voters for 2024

In practice, many Iranian Americans tend to travel to Iran on Iranian passports, but Americans of Iranian extraction who do not hold Islamic Republic travel documents would be unable to travel there under the ban. The measure is viewed as a potential signal of deeper isolation for the Iranian people and severing of people-to-people ties between Iran and the U.S.

Iran and North Korea?

The bill, originally proposed last October by Reps. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., and Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., was promoted as a measure to restrict the Iranian government’s ability to take U.S. citizens hostage as bargaining chips for bilateral negotiations. Some dual-nationals have been arrested in Iran in the past amid tensions between the two countries.

Yet hundreds of thousands of dual-nationals are believed to travel regularly to Iran from across the West. Measures barring their ability to do so would represent an unprecedented step, making it difficult or impossible for people with ties in both countries to visit family or maintain personal and professional connections.

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Invalidating U.S. passports for travel to Iran would put it on par with North Korea, which had a similar ban put in place in 2017 — during Trump’s first term — when an American citizen died after 17 months of detention there.

Despite being heavily sanctioned over foreign policy and human rights issues, Iran still has relations with much of the international community and large number of Iranians live throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and the Middle East.

“North Korea and Iran are very different countries.”

“North Korea is really the model for this policy, as it is the only country where there is such a strict prohibition for travel on the books,” said Costello. “But North Korea and Iran are very different countries. The level of isolation of North Korea is far greater, and it doesn’t have the same diaspora that Iran does.”

This week, a delegation from North Korea traveled to Iran, with reported hopes of breaking North Korea’s total diplomatic isolation as conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine forge new geopolitics.

Costello said that NIAC is still hoping that the Senate will not approve the bill when it comes to its consideration. Still, the implications of it coming under consideration, alongside Trump’s promises to revive his “Muslim ban” policy, bode poorly for the future of U.S.–Iran relations.

“You are talking,” he said, “about a policy that could affect hundreds of thousands of people.”

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North Korean official lambasts US over sanctions, state media says

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Residents hold US and North Korean flags while they wait for motorcade of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un en route to the Metropole Hotel for the second US- North Korea summit in Hanoi

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North Korea Officials Visit Iran in a Rare Public Trip

FILE PHOTO: A North Korean flag flutters at the propaganda village of Gijungdong in North Korea, in this picture taken near the truce village of Panmunjom inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, South Korea, July 19, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/Pool/File Photo

SEOUL (Reuters) - A North Korean delegation led by the cabinet minister for international trade is visiting Iran, the North's official media said on Wednesday in a rare public report of an exchange between the two countries believed to have secret military ties.

The minister for external economic relations, Yun Jong Ho, left Pyongyang on Tuesday by air leading a ministry delegation to visit Iran, the North's KCNA news agency said. It gave no other detail.

North Korea and Iran have long been suspected of cooperating on ballistic missile programmes, possibly exchanging technical expertise and components that went into their manufacture.

Iran has provided a large number of ballistic missiles to Russia for use in its war with Ukraine, Reuters reported in February.

War in Israel and Gaza

Palestinians are inspecting the damage in the rubble of the Al-Bashir mosque following Israeli bombardment in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, on April 2, 2024, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. (Photo by Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

North Korea is also suspected of supplying Russia with missiles and artillery, although both countries have denied the allegation.

Yun has previously worked on the country's ties with Syria, according to South Korean government database.

Yun has been active in the country's increasing exchanges with Russia, earlier this month leading a delegation to visit Moscow, according to KCNA.

(Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Stephen Coates)

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North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) Travel Advisory
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Canadians must have a visa to enter North Korea. You can obtain a visa from a North Korean mission in a third country after approval from the government in Pyongyang. The process for obtaining visas can be extremely slow and arduous. Canadians arriving without a valid Canadian passport and visa may be detained, arrested, fined or denied entry.
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Update April 12, 2024

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