tourism of north korea

Top North Korea Attractions

Things to do in north korea.

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• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Demilitarized Zone

2. Tower of the Juche Idea

3. Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum

4. Geumsusan Memorial Palace

5. Kim Il-sung Square

6. Mansudae Grand Monument

7. The State Circus

8. Kim Il Sung Stadium

9. Concrete Wall

10. Triumphal Arch

11. Masikryong Ski Resort

12. Tanjun Mausoleum

13. Rungrado May Day Stadium

14. Monument to the Korean Workers Party

15. Mount Kumgang

16. Daedong River (Taedong River)

17. Grand People's Study House

18. Munsu Water Park

19. Pyongyang Metro

20. Paektusan

21. Mansudae Art Studio Gallery

22. Koryo Museum

23. Koguryo Tombs

24. International Friendship Exhibition

25. Chollima Statue

26. Tomb of King Kongmin

27. Kaeson Youth Park

28. Kwangbok Department Store

29. Pohyonsa

30. Mount Myohyang

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North Korea

• 3 Other destinations
• 4.1.1 Prehistory and founding of a nation
• 4.1.2 Joseon Dynasty
• 4.1.3 Japanese occupation and a divided Korea
• 4.1.4 Modern North Korea
• 4.2 Government and politics
• 4.4 Climate
• 4.5 Terrain
• 4.7 Visitor information
• 5.1.1 Additional restrictions
• 5.2.1 The Korean Demilitarized Zone
• 5.3.1 Air Koryo
• 5.3.2 Air China
• 5.4 By train
• 5.5 By boat
• 6 Get around
• 10.2 Souvenirs
• 16.1 Photography
• 16.2 Korean nationals
• 16.3 Politics
• 16.4 Illegal substances
• 16.5 Religious activity
• 16.6 Emergency numbers
• 17 Stay healthy
• 18.1 Tour conduct
• 18.2 Sensitive issues
• 18.3 Religion
• 19.1.1 Mobile phones
• 19.2 By Internet

North Korea ( Korean : 조선 Chosŏn ), officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea or DPRK (조선민주주의인민공화국, Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk ) is the world's most isolated country and has usually been referred to as the "Hermit Kingdom". It's located in East Asia on the Korean Peninsula , which has been divided between North and South Korea since the 1950s.

One of the few remaining communist states in the world and the last frontier of the Cold War , North Korean society is dominated and run by a very strict, controlling, and totalitarian government that maintains a very tight grip over its people. The government is in firm control of just about everything in the country. For example, they own the country's factories, farms, enterprises, and even all the automobiles driven by its citizens.

Tourists may only travel to North Korea as part of a guided tour and they can expect to be under constant supervision and monitoring by the authorities. About 5,000 Western tourists visit North Korea every year. Most complete the journey safely, so long as they follow their ever-present guides. Incidents have occurred, and when they do, due process is hard to come by. The most likely consequence of any trouble with the authorities is a period of detention before deportation.

If the idea of accepting strict limitations on your freedom of expression, movement and behaviour, or the risk of arbitrary, indefinite detention seems unsettling to you, it is recommended that you do not travel to North Korea.

Regions [ edit ]

Cities [ edit ]

• 39.019 125.738 1 Pyongyang (평양) — the capital city and the former capital of Goguryeo during the Three Kingdoms period
• 41.783 129.766 2 Chongjin (청진) — Industrial city in the North East, very rarely visited by tourists
• 39.916 127.533 3 Hamhung (함흥) — Northern city, also rarely on official travel itineraries
• 39.698 125.906 4 Kaechon (개천) — home of the Songam Cavern
• 37.966 126.55 5 Kaesong (개성) — former capital during the Goryeo dynasty
• 38.733 125.4 6 Nampho (남포) — industrial centre and port on the western coast
• 42.344 130.384 7 Rason (라선) — Free trade zone on the Russian border, complete with casino
• 40.1 124.4 8 Sinuiju (신의주) — bleak industrial city right on the border with China. Probably the easiest ways to look into the country from the outside
• 39.147 127.446 9 Wonsan (원산) — East coast port city slowly opening to tourists, and it has the first ski resort in the country

Other destinations [ edit ]

• 38.688056 128.200278 1 Kumgangsan (금강산) — the scenic Diamond Mountain
• 40.018611 126.333056 2 Myohyangsan (묘향산) — this Mysterious Fragrant Mountain is one of the North's best hiking spots
• 42.005556 128.055278 3 Baekdu Mountains (백두산) — the tallest mountain in Korea and the Kim dynasty's mythical birthplace
• 37.956 126.677 4 Panmunjom (판문점) — the last outpost of the Cold War in the DMZ between South and North

Understand [ edit ]

History [ edit ], prehistory and founding of a nation [ edit ].

Archaeological finds of prehistoric toolmaking on the Korean Peninsula date back to 70,000 BC with the first pottery found around 8000 BC. Comb-pattern pottery culture peaked around 3500-2000 BC.

Legend has it that Korea began with the founding of Gojoseon (also called Ancient Chosun ) by the legendary Dangun in 2333 BC. Archeological and contemporaneous written records of Gojoseon as a kingdom date back to around 7th-4th century BC. Gojoseon was eventually defeated by the Chinese Han Dynasty in 108 BC and its territories were governed by four Chinese commanderies, but this did not last long. Natives of the peninsula and Manchuria soon reclaimed the territory, namely the Three Kingdoms of Korea, Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje. The Goguryeo Kingdom (or Koguryo) ruled the entire area of modern North Korea, as well as parts of Manchuria and the northern parts of modern South Korea. Buddhist and Confucian teachings were prominent in the Goguryeo Kingdom, which adopted Buddhism as the state religion in 372. Despite repeated attempts by China, namely the Sui Dynasty and later the Tang Dynasty, to conquer the Korean Peninsula, northern-based Goguryeo managed to repel them. Eventually, Goguryeo fell to a Silla-Tang alliance, which had earlier defeated Baekje. This unified Korea under the Silla dynasty. Even though Tang later invaded, Silla forces managed to drive them out, thus maintaining Korea's independence.

Unified Silla was replaced by the Goryeo (also called Koryo ) dynasty, from which the modern name "Korea" derives. One highlight of the Goryeo dynasty was that in 1234 the world's first metal movable type was invented by a Korean named Choe Yun-ui (200 years before Gutenberg's printing press).

Buddhist learning spread during this time and the former Baekje and Goguryeo leaders were treated well. The kingdom saw relative peace until the 8th and 9th centuries when clan leaders led uprisings and toppled the Silla, establishing the Goryeo Dynasty from which the name "Korea" was derived by Westerners. During this period, the nation suffered Mongol invasions, which led to unrest and the eventual establishment of the Joseon Dynasty in 1392.

Joseon Dynasty [ edit ]

The Joseon Dynasty was one of the longest-running dynasties in the world (512 years), ruling from 1392 until 1910. King Sejong the Great' s rule was especially celebrated, as he helped create the Korean script, choson'gul , which allowed even the commoners to become literate. He also expanded the nation's military power to drive out Japanese pirates and northern nomads and regain territories that had been lost. The Japanese invaded Korea under the leadership of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, though the Joseon Dynasty managed to drive them out with the support of China's Ming Dynasty, albeit with heavy losses in the Korean peninsula. In spite of its losses, the nation experienced about 200 years of peace, and its isolationist policies allowed it to further develop a uniquely Korean culture and identity.

Rapid modernisation stirred by the Second Industrial Revolution created tension between China and Japan as they felt the pressures of Western expansionism, each wanting to extend their influence over Korea. Ensuing wars between Japan, China and Russia led to increasing Japanese influence over the peninsula, resulting in Korea's status as a vassal state of Imperial China ending in 1895, and Japan annexing Korea outright in 1910, marking the end of the Joseon dynasty and Korean independence.

Japanese occupation and a divided Korea [ edit ]

Japan ruled the Korea as a colony until its defeat in World War II in 1945. During that period, the Japanese committed numerous atrocities including massacres, and forced many Korean women to become "comfort women", sex slaves in Japanese military brothels. Moreover, Japan instituted a cultural assimilation policy, forcing the Koreans to adopt Japanese names, and forbidding them from speaking the Korean language.

Japan was forced to give up control of all its colonies after is defeat in World War II in 1945, and the Allied Powers divided Korea along the 38th Parallel, with the Soviet Union occupying the northern half and the United States occupying the southern half. The divide was supposed to be temporary; however, the political power struggle between the two nations to gain influence over the unified Korea led each to establish governments within their newly created territories. North Korea was established as its own nation in 1948 with the support of the Soviet Union, following the Soviet communist model, with Kim Il-Sung as its leader, while at about the same time, Syngman Rhee established a capitalist regime with the support of the United States in the south.

Agitation between the North and South came to a head in 1950 when the North started the Korean War by attempting to reunify the country under its terms by launching an invasion. The Soviet Union and China fought alongside the North against the South, who were in turn backed by the United Nations (UN) forces led by the United States . The UN forces drove the North Korean forces all the way up to the Chinese border, whereupon Chinese reinforcements forced the UN forces to be driven back south. The war finally resulted in the signing of an armistice in 1953, largely maintaining the original borders set prior to the war. Because no peace treaty has been signed since the armistice, the nations of South Korea and North Korea are officially still at war.

Modern North Korea [ edit ]

With the nation in shambles after the war, Kim Il-Sung launched a campaign to unite the people by defaming the United States with Soviet support and purging the nation of dissidents and anyone thought to oppose him. He sided with China during the Sino-Soviet split on Communist philosophy because he disliked Khrushchev's reforms but began to praise the Soviet Union once again when China underwent its Cultural Revolution, straining relations with both neighbors. Consequently, he developed his own ideology, Juche ("self-reliance"), to create the sort of Communism he wanted for his nation. Throughout his life, Kim Il-Sung added to and clarified the Juche ideology in order to justify his governing decisions.

The Korean War not only divided the people, but it also divided the labor force. When the peninsula was united, North Korea had most of the nation's industries while South Korea was the agricultural center. This divide allowed North Korea to initially bounce back faster than the South in the rebuilding process. The Soviet Union then funded agricultural efforts in the North, in accordance with the Communist model. This system began to unravel in the late 1970s and 1980s as the Soviet system began to falter. With the end of Soviet aid following its dissolution in 1991, there was no way to continue to support the agricultural systems' needs for fuel, fertilizer and equipment. After so many years of government mismanagement, and the bad timing of severe flooding, the North's agricultural system collapsed in the mid-1990s, leading to widespread famine and death for countless North Koreans. The death of Kim Il-Sung in 1994 took place while the nation tried to deal with the crisis, slowing government response as the new leader, Kim Jong-Il, took his father's position.

The North finally allowed international relief agencies to assist, and the worst aspects of the famine were contained. However, the DPRK continues to rely heavily on international food aid to feed its population while at the same time continuing to expend resources on its songun , or "military first", policy, which Kim Jong-Il introduced and used in conjunction with his father's Juche ideology (which he "interpreted").

Today the DPRK maintains an army of about 1 million infantrymen, most stationed close to the DMZ which divides the two Koreas. North Korea's long-range missile development and research into nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and massive conventional armed forces are of major concern to the international community. In December 2002, Kim Jong-Il reneged on a 1994 "Agreed Framework" signed by his father which required the shut down of its nuclear reactors, expelling UN monitors and further raising fears that the nation would produce nuclear weapons. Missile testing was conducted in 1998, 2006 and April 2009. In October 2006 North Korea announced that it had conducted its first nuclear test. These actions have led to UN and other international sanctions.

Current negotiations, most notably the "Six-Party Talks" involving China, Russia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea and the United States, are aimed at bringing about an end to the DPRK nuclear weapons program, in hopes that a peace treaty to officially end the Korean War may finally be agreed upon, paving the way for the opening of diplomatic ties between North Korea and the United States. Unfortunately, in March 2010, a South Korean ship was sunk near the 38th parallel, increasing tensions between North and South Korea. Although North Korea claims not to have attacked the ship, the blame has largely been placed on North Korea.

The death of Kim Jong-Il in late 2011 created a measure of uncertainty during the transfer of power to his son Kim Jong-Un; though the country has appeared to have stabilized since, considerable tensions have occurred intermittently.

Government and politics [ edit ]

North Korea is a totalitarian dictatorship. The government is led by the State Affairs Commission (SAC), which sets national policy and is directly responsible for the military. The supreme leader (Kim Jong-un) is chairman of the SAC, as well as head of the Workers' Party of Korea and several other positions. Atop the administrative branch of the government is the cabinet, which is headed by the premier (like a prime minister).

The cabinet is appointed by the unicameral Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) which heads the legislative branch, although bills are drafted by the Party and the almost 700-person SPA almost always passes them without debate or modification. Moreover, it's in recess all but a few days a year, leaving most authority in the hands of the 15-person Presidium. The judiciary is headed by the Supreme Court, whose three justices are elected, partisan, and accountable to the SPA. The judiciary is not independent and does not have the power to overrule the legislative or executive branches of government, and interference from security forces is a widespread problem.

Despite North Korea's isolation from the rest of the world and its label as the "Hermit Kingdom", it maintains diplomatic relations with 160-170 countries around the globe and is a member of several international organisations, including the World Health Organization. North Korea has cordial relations with its neighbours Russia (the first country to recognise North Korea) and China and several African and Asian nations, and has incredibly tense relations with the United States , Japan , and the European Union .

People [ edit ]

North Korea may be the most ethnically homogeneous nation on earth, with everyone being Korean save for a few hundred foreigners. These foreigners are mostly diplomatic or aid agency workers, along with a small population of Japanese who have Korean ancestry. Almost no South Koreans live in North Korea.

North Korean society is strongly divided and organised along a caste system known as Songbun . Membership of one of three main groups is determined not only by an individual's political, social and economic background, but also that of their family for the previous three generations. Education and professional opportunities are effectively defined by an individual's class.

Climate [ edit ]

The climate is generally classed as continental, with rainfall concentrated in summer. Summer months are warm, but winter temperatures can fall as low as -30°C. Late spring droughts are often followed by severe flooding. There are occasional typhoons during the early autumn.

Terrain [ edit ]

Mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains are wide in the west and discontinuous in the east. The mountainous interior is both isolated and sparsely populated.

Read [ edit ]

The Accusation , by Bandi. A collection of short stories, published abroad by a pseudonymous North Korean writer, that are highly critical of the Kim regime and full of piercing insight into its contradictions and cruelties. Uniquely among North Korean dissident literature, they were published with their author still living in the country.

Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea , Barbara Demick. An excellent book recounting the lives of six North Koreans who managed to defect and find their way to South Korea. Provides a compelling picture of the miseries and occasional beauty in the lives of ordinary North Koreans during the famine of the 1990s. ISBN 0385523912

Eyes of the Tailless Animals: Prison Memoirs of a North Korean Woman , by Soon Ok Lee. First-hand accounts of the prison system within North Korea.

Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West , by Blaine Harden. The riveting story of Shin Dong-hyuk, one of the only known surviving escapees of a North Korean prison camp, and his perilous journey out of the country.

Without You There Is No Us , by Suki Kim. A fascinating piece of investigative journalism about teaching English as a foreigner in Pyongyang.

Visitor information [ edit ]

The Korean Friendship Association provides North Korean-related material, including tourism tips.

Get in [ edit ]

North Korean entry requirements are perplexing and change frequently without prior warning.

After several years of complete closure due to COVID-19, the first international tourist group landed in North Korea in February 2024.

Due to longstanding international sanctions and tensions in the Korean peninsula, you can only enter North Korea from either China or Russia. Generally speaking, most people fly or take the train from Beijing .

Visas [ edit ]

Everyone needs a visa to visit North Korea. Tourists typically arrange a tourist visa by booking a tour with a travel agency that organises such tours. The travel agencies will usually deal with the visa on their behalf, although in some cases tourists are required to have a short telephone interview with the North Korean embassy to verify their identity and their job. In most cases, the interview is conducted in a friendly manner so it is nothing to be worried about. Visas are often only confirmed on the day before the tour, but rarely will a tourist ever be rejected unless you show that you are of political status or a journalist.

North Korean tourist visas are often issued on a tourist card. If joining a tour group, group visas are often issued on separate sheets of paper containing all the members of the group, attached with a tourist card that bears the name of the tour leader. This visa itself is never held by the tourists, although tourists can ask to take a photo of their visa. In any case, no stamp will be placed in the passport. The only way where a visa and entrance stamp will be stamped on the passport is when the visa is issued within a North Korean embassy in Europe.

Additional restrictions [ edit ]

Journalists or those suspected of being journalists require special permission, which is quite difficult to obtain. North Korea does not allow journalists to visit on a tourist visa.

Citizens of Malaysia were being prevented from leaving North Korea after the March 2017 assassination of Kim Jong-Nam, where Malaysia wanted several North Korean diplomats and nationals for questioning. While restrictions for Malaysians leaving North Korea have now been lifted, the era of visa-free travel between these once relatively 'friendly' countries is over.

Citizens of South Korea are not permitted to enter North Korea unless they have permission from the governments of both the North, for entry, and the South from the Ministry of Unification (통일부). South Korean citizens may face a lengthy prison sentence under the National Security Act (국가보안법) on their return if they do not obtain permission beforehand. South Korean citizens travelling to North Korea on a passport from a different country still risk prosecution.

Contrary to rumour, Israelis and Jewish citizens of other countries do not face any additional restrictions.

Tours [ edit ]

• Uri Tours Inc. - NYC, US (runs standard and customized tours to the DPRK; also an Air Koryo ticketing agent in the US)
• Asia Senses Travel Travel & Tour [dead link] - Hanoi, Vietnam
• DDCTS [dead link] - Dandong, China
• GLO Travel [dead link] - Hong Kong - largest North Korean tour operator in Hong Kong, clients mostly are from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Overseas Chinese communities. Also organises cultural exchanges, sports events, volunteering and TV programmes on North Korea.
• INDPRK [dead link] - Zhejiang, China
• Juche Travel Services - UK, Beijing
• Koryo Tours and Koryo Group - Beijing, Shanghai, Belgium, UK. Also organises school visits and sports exchanges and has co-produced 3 documentary films about North Korea. English tour only.
• North Korea Travel - Sheyang, China
• Young Pioneer Tours - Beijing, China. Offers very low budget tours.
• Choson Exchange - Singapore, UK & USA. Not a tour agency, rather they provide training in business and entrepreneurship in North Korea to businesswomen, young entrepreneurs and researchers, and bring volunteer/tourists to help them to do so.
• MBC Travel [dead link] - Jakarta, Indonesia
• Korea Konsult - Stockholm, Sweden
• Korea Reisedienst - Hannover, Germany
• Lupine Travel - Wigan, UK.
• NoordKorea2GO [dead link] - Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Regent Holidays - Bristol, UK
• Pyongyang Travel - Berlin, Germany (offers group tours, private tours and New Year's Tours to North Korea)
• Viajes Pujol - Barcelona, Spain
• VNC Asia Travel [dead link] - Utrecht, Netherlands
• Your Planet - Hilversum, Netherlands

No matter which company you decide to book with, all tours are run by the Korean International Travel Company (with the exception of a few, such as Choson Exchange and The Pyongyang Project who both work directly with various government ministries and domestic DPRK NGOs) and it will be their guides who show you around. The average number of tourists per group each company takes will vary considerably so you may want to ask about this before booking a trip.

Most people travelling to North Korea will travel through Beijing and you will probably pick up your visa from there, although some agents arrange their visas elsewhere beforehand though. The North Korean consulate building is separate from the main embassy building at Ritan Lu, and is round the corner at Fangcaodi Xijie. It's open M, W, F 09:30-11:30 & 14:00-17:30; and Tu, Th, Sa 09:30-11:30. Bring your travel permission, US$45 and two passport photos.

Your guides will take your passport and keep it during your stay in North Korea, or at least for the first couple of days of your tour, for "security reasons", or simply because your entry and exit dates must be registered, as noted by the black stamps on the back of your visa or passport. Make sure your passport looks decent and doesn't differ from the most common passports from your country.

Groups such as Choson Exchange bring volunteers (or tourists) to participate in teaching workshops on business and entrepreneurship to businesswomen, young entrepreneurs and researchers, after which volunteers tour relevant sites in North Korea. Such volunteers travel on an official visa, rather than a tourist visa.

• Choson Exchange - Singapore, UK & USA. A social enterprise providing training in business and entrepreneurship in North Korea to businesswomen, young entrepreneurs and researchers, and bring volunteer/tourists to help them to do so.

The Korean Demilitarized Zone [ edit ]

The Panmunjom Joint Security Area is the only place in North Korea that can be visited from the South by regular tourists. This is the jointly-controlled truce village in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) dividing the two Koreas. In the JSA, you can briefly cross over into North Korea within the confines of one of the conference rooms straddling the border, but the northern door will be guarded by two soldiers, and you will not be able to proceed any further.

Group bus tours to Kaesong and Kumgangsan in North Korea from the South have been suspended indefinitely after a South Korean tourist was shot dead by a North Korean guard in 2008. It is unclear when services will resume.

By plane [ edit ]

All international flights go through Pyongyang's Sunan International Airport ( FNJ  IATA ). No other North Korean airport handles international flights. As of 2024, the only airline operating flights to Sunan is Air Koryo, although Air China may resume flights soon.

Air Koryo [ edit ]

Prior to COVID, North Korea's sole airline, Air Koryo [dead link] , had scheduled flights to Beijing, Shenyang and Vladivostok . As of 2024, there appear to be no scheduled services at all, only irregular charters, but this is likely to change as the country continues to glacially reopen.

Air Koryo was the only 1-star (worst) airline on Skytrax's list, a distinction it held for many years. It has been banned in the EU due to concerns over safety. Although Air Koryo last experienced a fatal accident back in 1983, the airline only operates a handful of flights with its fleet of 10 aircraft. The main reason for flying Air Koryo is the experience: otherwise, it's probably better to fly Air China. The Air Koryo fleet consists entirely of Soviet or Russian-made aircraft, with the pride of their fleet being two Tupolev Tu-204s, which now usually handle the core Beijing–Pyongyang route as well as the Pyongyang-Shenyang route. Otherwise, you'll most likely end up on one of their Ilyushin IL-62-Ms (1979-1988 vintage), Tupolev Tu-154s or Tupolev Tu-134s.

Air China [ edit ]

Air China , a member of the Star Alliance, announced the resumption of thrice-weekly flights to Pyongyang in 2023, but as of February 2024 does not appear to be actually flying them yet. When available, Air China is preferred by most to Air Koryo due to its far more modern fleet of Boeing 737s.

By train [ edit ]

Train K27/K28 connects Pyongyang to Beijing in China via Tianjin , Tangshan , Beidaihe, Shanhaiguan , Jinzhou , Shenyang, Benxi , Fenghuangcheng, Dandong and Sinuiju four times a week. There is only one class on the international train between Beijing and Pyongyang: soft sleeper. It can be booked at the station in Beijing, but reservations must be made several days in advance. Your tour agency will usually do this for you, unless you are travelling on work purposes. It has been increasingly difficult to book space on the Beijing–Pyongyang route, so confirm your tickets well in advance.

Once a week train K27/K28 also conveys direct sleeping cars from Moscow via China to Pyongyang and vice versa. The route is Moscow - Novosibirsk - Irkutsk - Chita - Harbin - Shenyang - Dandong - Shinuiju - Pyongyang . Departure from Moscow is every Friday evening, arrival at Pyongyang is one week later on Friday evening. Departure from Pyongyang is Saturday morning, arrival in Moscow is Friday afternoon.

Some agents (e.g. Lupine Travel) prefer to cross the border from Dandong in China to Sinuiju by minibus and then board a domestic North Korean train to Pyongyang. Usually you will be seated in a hard seat carriage with KPA soldiers and party workers travelling with their families. There is access to a restaurant car which stocks imported beers (Heineken) and soft drinks as well as some local beers and spirits. This train supposedly takes only 4 hours to Pyongyang but has been known to take 14. If travelling in winter be prepared for temperatures inside the carriages as low as -10°C.

There is also a direct rail link from Russia into North Korea. This route is the Rossiya Trans-Siberian train between Moscow and Vladivostok, with the Korea coaches detached at Ussuriysk. From there it's six hours to the border at Tumangan, with a five hour wait, then a 24-hour haul to Pyongyang. It runs weekly, but as a through-train only twice monthly (11th and 25th from Moscow), arriving Pyongyang 9 days later. This route used to be closed to Westerners, but as of 2018 it's available, providing you've got the correct visa and other paperwork.

By boat [ edit ]

There was an unscheduled cargo-passenger ship between Wonsan and Niigata , Japan. Only available for use by some Japanese and North Korean nationals, the boat service has been suspended indefinitely due to North Korea's reported nuclear testing; Japan has banned all North Korean ships from entering Japanese ports, and has banned North Koreans from entering the country. Be careful about getting too close to the North Korean border in a boat; many South Korean fishermen are still waiting to leave North Korea.

Besides the unscheduled ferry, there is also a cruise ship that operates between the coast of Northeastern China, and Mt Kumgang. Jointly operated by China and North Korea, the cruise line uses a ship from around 1970. The cruise trip is 22 hours long at each leg, and is 44 hours long in total but non-Chinese citizens are not permitted on the cruise to Mount Kumgang.

By bus [ edit ]

A bus is available from Dandong, China, across the Yalu River to Sinuiju . It's run by the "Dandong China Travel Company" but is only open to Chinese citizens. The bus drives from Dandong over the Sino-Korea Friendship Bridge (the same bridge over the Yalu river that the trains take).

Get around [ edit ]

All your transport needs will be dealt with by your tour company. Most of the time this means buses, although tour groups visiting remote sites (e.g. Paekdusan , Mount Chilbo) occasionally use chartered flights by Air Koryo. Wandering around on your own is not allowed, and you are required to have a guide to escort you at all times.

A carefully stage-managed one-station ride on the Pyongyang metro is included on the itinerary of most trips to Pyongyang, but use of any other form of local public transport is generally impossible. Some tours also include a train ride from Pyongyang to the border city of Sinuiju, in which you can stop over in Sinuiju for a 1-day tour, though this option is not available to U.S. citizens.

If travelling in a small enough group it is also possible to organise a walk through some areas of Pyongyang with some travel agents (Koryo).

Talk [ edit ]

The official language is Korean . North Koreans are quite picky about referring to Korean as chosŏn-mal (조선말), not hangugeo (both mean "Korean language", but the names of Korea refer to different historic periods). The language is rather drastically different from any Western language in its grammar, and while the language isn't tonal, its pronunciation is rather difficult for the English speaker to get right. It has various dialects; standard North Korean (문화어 munhwaŏ ) is ostensibly based on the Pyong'an dialect spoken in Pyongyang, but in reality is still deeply rooted in the Seoul dialect which was the standard before Korea was split.

The Korean writing system is deceptively simple. Although it looks at first glance to be as complex as Chinese or Japanese, it is a unique and simple alphabetic writing system called chosŏn'gŭl by North Koreans, and hangul (한글 hangeul ) by the rest of the world, where letters are stacked up into blocks that represent syllables. It was designed by a committee and looks like simple lines, boxes and little circles, but it is remarkably consistent, logical and quick to pick up. A document from 1446 describing hangul said that "A wise man can acquaint himself with them before the morning is over; a stupid man can learn them in the space of ten days."

Essentially all sources for learning Korean abroad will teach South Korean, which does have slightly different usage: some letters have different names, the sorting order is different, and there are some minor differences in pronunciation and spelling.

North Korea completely abolished Chinese hanja characters in the late 1940s and uses the chosŏn'gŭl alphabet exclusively.

North Korea uses its own unique system for romanization of Korean, which is mostly similar to the older McCune–Reischauer system. In South Korea and the rest of the world, Revised Romanization is more common.

Most guides will speak fairly decent English (some better than others) and will translate for you. Some guides can also speak Mandarin, German, Russian, Japanese and Spanish.

There is no law preventing citizens of the DPRK from interacting with tourists, although locals are often discouraged from speaking with foreigners and language can prove to be an additional barrier. A visit to the DPRK around their holidays may give you more of a chance to interact with the locals.

North Korea has its own sign language, which is not mutually intelligible with Korean Sign Language as used in South Korea; it's unclear if it's related to any other sign languages, or how widespread it is.

See [ edit ]

All tours are accompanied by a government minder, who will decide what you can and cannot see. From the moment you leave your hotel, expect to be accompanied by one or more minders. Besides ensuring that tourists do not stray outside of the designated tourist areas, their jobs include inspecting any photographs which they think do not portray North Korea or its government in a good light, and ordering photographers to delete them. It is generally advisable to listen to what your minder is saying, and agree with it.

It is always recommended that if you are uncertain about taking pictures anywhere, ask your guide, though allowances seem to vary wildly. You may get a guide that is relatively relaxed and will allow you to take pictures from a bus or within a city. On the other hand, you may get one that will strictly adhere to controlling where you take pictures restricting anything taken from a tour bus or of certain areas, like Pyongyang's city streets, in general. There is simply no way to tell until you are actually on a tour. If you think a particular photograph might be embarrassing to the DPRK in general, ask or simply don't risk taking it at all.

Photography of military personnel is also generally prohibited. Again, if in doubt, ask your guide. However, there are instances where it is impossible not to photograph certain sites without including a few military personnel within the picture such as at Mansudae (the monument site for the statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il) or at a local funfair. Reactions seem to vary between being ignored to curiosity, although you will be told where taking pictures is strictly prohibited (such as at certain areas of the DMZ), and the guards/soldiers there will react unfavourably to being photographed in general. Other areas where photographs are prohibited include the interior of the Friendship Exhibition, which displays gifts from around the world to Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, and within the Kumsusan Memorial Palace. If you leave the country via train (to Beijing ) your camera will likely be checked for unfavorable photos by the guards.

The majority of sightseeing consists of visits to various war memorials, monuments to the Great Leader and the Workers Party of Korea, and numerous museums (mostly war-related, like the statues and monuments). The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is a popular destination for most tour groups in North Korea.

Whilst you are in North Korea, the prevailing viewpoint places blame on the Americans for starting the Korean War; disagreeing with this position is likely to cause problems for both you and your guide, particularly as the two Koreas are still legally at war with only a cease-fire between them. Despite its misleading name, the DMZ is heavily guarded and dotted with minefields and other booby-traps. Under no circumstances should you stray from your group, or take any photographs of military installations. However, the "peace village" Panmunjom may be photographed, and boasts the world's third tallest flagpole.

Whilst on these guided tours, especially to the state museums and monuments, you will undoubtedly endure an ongoing barrage of propaganda, consisting largely of anecdotes about things that Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il did for their country. Some of these claims may seem bizarre and even amusing to the outsider; however, a straight face is generally advisable. It is generally safest to at least appear to take everything they say seriously, even if it contradicts everything you were ever taught in history class or defies even the most basic human reasoning.

Sights [ edit ]

So, with all this practical information being said, what are the places to go? A good part of the important attractions you'll be shown are in Pyongyang . There's the large Kim Il-sung Square , where the famously grand military parades take place. Even without the parades, though, it's an impressive square, and on it is the Grand People’s Study House . This gigantic library and learning centre is home to over 30 million books and a modern system of conveyor belts to get you the one you need. Also on the square are two museums, of which — the Korean National Art Gallery — is the more interesting one. The other great landmark of the nation's capital is its Triumphal Arch . Slightly bigger than its Parisian counterpart, it is in fact the largest arch of its kind in the world. Another landmark you'll be proudly shown are the large bronze statues of the Great Leader and Kim Jong-il . Respectfully join the locals in their serious undertakings to honour the statues, which are a key element of the devotion cult around the national leaders. For a better chance of some casual conversations with locals, try the pleasant Pyongyang zoo . Take a daytrip to the birthplace of the Great Leader in Mangyongdae and of course, visit the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun where both the previous Kims' embalmed bodies are on display.

No trip to North Korea is complete without an extensive glance at the uneasy and heavily fortified border stand-off at Panmunjeom , or the Joint Security Area. Not far from here is the town of Kaesong , with a lovely old town and the UNESCO -listed tomb of King Kongmin . For stunning natural sights, try reaching Kumgangsan , or the Diamond Mountains , where you'll find beautiful vistas, waterfalls, lakes and ancient Buddhist temples .

Do [ edit ]

As mentioned above, there is very little to do beyond the watchful eye of your designated minders, with most recreational activity taking place within the confines of the tourist resorts. Bowling and karaoke are among the latest additions to its surprising plethora of recreational activities. The karaoke videos are often accompanied by dramatic historical footage of the Korean War, or goose-stepping People's Army soldiers.

North Korea has three amusement parks, two of which are abandoned due to mutual lack of interest and electricity. The Kaeson Youth Fair has now closed, taking the infamous "Roller Coaster of Death" along with it. Still visible are the shooting-galleries with backdrops of snarling American and Japanese soldiers; however, it is unlikely that your guide will let you venture into any abandoned areas. The one remaining amusement park contains some rides which are actually quite modern and non-lethal, at least by North Korean standards, and is about as worthy of a visit as everything else you'll see whilst in North Korea.

The nightlife in Pyongyang is remarkably safe and non-violent, compared to the capitals of other nations (except maybe Reykjavík in Iceland ); in general, the civilians are not a threat. The plain-clothes secret police, however, may or may not be a threat, depending on what you say or do. The North Korean definition of popular music is at least two decades behind the rest of the world; expect an onslaught of 1980s hits from the West (some obviously are unauthorized copies, to judge by the quality), punctuated by the eerie caterwauling of Korean folk songs, and at least try to look enthusiastic about the whole scene.

Finally, power cuts may hit without warning in the middle of any activity. Whilst you might welcome this if the jukebox is starting to get to you, this is not a desirable outcome if you are in the middle of an amusement-park ride, particularly as these blackouts can last for hours at a time.

The Masikryong ski resort, North Korea's only ski resort, opened in winter 2013. Located near the western city of Wonsan, a visit to the resort may be included as part of a wider DPRK tour.

Buy [ edit ]

Money [ edit ].

The currency is the North Korean won , denoted by the symbol ₩ (ISO code: KPW ) and not typically available to foreigners, except some old North Korean won sold as souvenirs. The only places where tourists are allowed to obtain and spend North Korean won are at the Kwangbok Supermarket, which is included in some tours of Pyongyang , and in the Rason Special Economic Zone. Black market exchange rates (especially in far northern Korea, near the Chinese border) may easily be 20 times the official rate, but importing or exporting Korean won is strictly forbidden. North Korean won is practically worthless outside the country but can make unique souvenirs.

Foreigners are expected to use euros or as an alternative Chinese renminbi, US dollars or Japanese yen. Currency handling is often bizarre, with a frequent lack of change and a number of rule-of-thumb conversions leading to highly unorthodox transactions, so be sure to bring lots of small change. On a typical tour most expenses such as hotel, transportation, and meals will have been paid in advance, and therefore your only expenses may be bottled water, souvenirs, snacks, drinks at the bars, laundry at the hotel and tips for your guides.

In any case, the only shops you will be likely allowed to visit are the state-run souvenir shops at your hotel and at the various tourist attractions. It is generally not possible to visit a real local shop which serves the local population, though you might get lucky asking your guide if he/she trusts you enough. Some tours include a visit to a department store.

Souvenirs [ edit ]

There are numerous hard-currency-only souvenir shops at tourist sites. Interesting souvenirs include propaganda books and videos, postcards and postage stamps. At some tourist sites (such as King Kongmin's tomb), you can purchase freshly finished paintings with your name and the artist's name at the bottom.

You can buy postcards and send them to people in any country except South Korea. Stamps would make wonderful souvenirs.

Literature is revered in North Korean society, in due large part to the fact that the government regularly promotes views that present them in a good light, i.e. propaganda. Writers in North Korea are held in high prestige. Sure, North Korean books may be full of views and perspectives promoting the government, but they will allow you to be further exposed to the world's most secretive, isolated country and better understand the thoughts and views of the government, the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Il-Sung, Kim Jong-il, and Kim Jong-un. A book from North Korea would make a good souvenir from the country.

Some excellent paintings on silk or linen have been available in Kaesong directly from the artist. Haggling for better prices is not permitted but the prices are very low.

Note: South Korean law criminalizes the possession and importation of North Korean "propaganda". It is advised to avoid bringing your North Korean souvenirs with you if you go to South Korea.

Costs [ edit ]

Most costs are included as part of your tour. Most sights have a shop associated with them where you can buy bottled water, souvenirs and snacks. These are reasonably priced. In September 2017, large bottles of local beer cost US$2 at the hotel bars in Pyongyang. €200 for one week should be enough to cover your costs of water, drinks at the bars, souvenirs and tips for the guides.

Eat [ edit ]

As with most other aspects of visiting North Korea, catering is usually organized in advance as part of your tour. Vegetarians and people with food allergies or dislikes of common foods such as seafood or eggs will need to make arrangements in advance. A visit to a "real" local restaurant may be possible; inquire with your guide. Shortages of supplies, combined with the typical use of Korean cooking styles, mean that there is a relatively limited variety of food — and this can get wearying on tours of more than a few days.

There are a few Western food options now in Pyongyang and these restaurants can usually be visited if arranged with the guides in advance. They will usually require additional payment though, unless you have discussed this already with your tour operator, as the costs are not included in the per diem fee charged by the Korean Travel Company. There are two Italian restaurants (one on Kwangbok Street which is near the Korean circus where the pizza is great, and they have imported a pizza oven and all the ingredients so the quality is very high; and one near the USS Pueblo ) and two burger restaurants (the more accessible is in the Youth Hotel). Both are inexpensive and do inject some flavor onto a generally lackluster eating scene, especially on long tours. Visit the Vienna coffee house, which is on the river side of Kim Jong Il square, for a good coffee similar to those common in Europe.

Drink [ edit ]

The local speciality is insam-ju , Korean vodka infused with ginseng roots.

Locally made Taedonggang beer is very good. The brewery was purchased from Ushers in the UK and physically moved to Pyongyang, and some of the soju are not bad either. Local alcohol is inexpensive; a 650 ml bottle of beer is €0.50. Imported beers, such as Heineken, are also available at similar prices. However do not get drunk and cause trouble. Toe the line and show respect, or you and your guide will face serious penalties.

It is advisable to stick to bottled water for drinking as the tap water is not always properly treated.

Sleep [ edit ]

This is likely to be your principal expense while in North Korea. You may only stay at "designated tourist hotels", for which you will need to pay in hard currency. There may be discounts if you ask for lower class accommodation, if you are travelling as part of a group, or if it is low season (November – March). Costs for your tour, which will include accommodation, all sightseeing activities and meals, will range from US$70 to US$200 a day, depending on these factors.

Usually you pay for all your meals, hotel and Beijing–Pyongyang journey to your tour operator before you leave. One week in high season at a four-star hotel will then cost something between €1,300 and €1,600, depending on your tour operator, but might get as low as €800 for one week.

Learn [ edit ]

It's difficult to ascertain the full scope of the North Korean education system, since very few foreigners, if any, take advantage of learning opportunities in the country. The vast majority of foreign students in North Korea are normally exchange students and typically come here to study the Korean language.

The Kim Il-Sung University is North Korea's most prestigious university and has exchange programmes with several universities in China , Russia , and Germany . The university has educated 5,000 students from nearly 30 countries since 1955.

The North Korean government has set up a website where you can freely download books published in North Korea. This will allow you to learn something new about North Korea.

Yanbian University , in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in northeastern China is closely affiliated with other universities in North Korea and can offer relevant courses for learning about North Korea.

Work [ edit ]

If you are interested in teaching in North Korea, you may find success by contacting the North Korean UN Mission in New York, or contacting a North Korean university directly. Your odds of success are, however, quite low: there is only a small team of 4 English Language Instructors dealing with teaching and teacher training, with a Project Manager leading the team of three, placed in Kim Il Sung University, Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies and Kim Hyung Jik University of Education.

There is an opportunity to teach in the Pyongyang Summer Institute during summer time when it is opened to foreigners. It's voluntary, unpaid work, though.

Stay safe [ edit ]

At first, you may feel scared and intimidated by being in an authoritarian country like North Korea. You may even feel uneasy or outright anxious. As a tourist, you're not expected to know every single law and rule in North Korea. So long as you listen to your tour guide(s) and respect local customs, you have nothing to worry about.

North Korea is an authoritarian dictatorship and is generally considered to have the worst human rights record in the world . The authorities are very touchy, and you need to watch what you say and how you say it. Just do what the guides do, praise every stop on your tour, and remember the rule, "If you have nothing good to say, don't say anything at all."

The official policy is that you are not to wander around on your own . You are expected to get permission and/or have a guide accompany you if you leave your hotel alone. This will vary depending on what hotel you are in. The Yanggakdo Hotel is on an island in the middle of the Pyongyang's Taedong River. Therefore you can walk around the area a little more freely than at the Koryo Hotel in the centre of town. You should always be friendly and courteous to your guides and driver, who will usually reciprocate by trusting you more and giving you more freedom.

Photography [ edit ]

When taking photographs , exercise restraint, caution and common sense. If you appear to be looking for negative images of North Korea, the guides will not be happy and will tell you to delete any questionable images. In particular, you should not take photos of anything depicting the military, including personnel, or anything showing the DPRK in a bad light.

Your photographic freedom can largely depend on the type of guides you are assigned and your rapport with them. In a best-case scenario, you can often take pictures without feeling as if you're trying to sneak them by anyone and without pressure capturing some truly unique images. If you are in an area prohibiting picture taking, you will also be informed of this, and it is best to follow your guide's direction. When in doubt, always ask. Your guide might even want to try out your camera and take a picture of you for your collection.

In a worst-case scenario, you can be expected to raise your camera at a reasonable speed, compose and take the picture, and lower the camera at a reasonable speed. Don't try to take pictures of anything that you have been told not to, such as military personnel or certain locales. This may call attention to yourself and the image you are trying to take and can result, whether justified or not, in your being told to delete the image.

Digital cameras are commonly inspected when leaving the country by train. A simple workaround is to leave a memory card with innocuous snaps in the camera and file away any cards with ideologically dubious content.

Korean nationals [ edit ]

If you are Korean or have ties to Korea – such as having a Korean parent, being married to a Korean, or being of Korean descent – you should carefully consider your decision to visit North Korea. You could easily arouse suspicion from the authorities.

Politics [ edit ]

Visitors have also been targeted for political reasons; in 2013, an 85-year-old American citizen was arrested, briefly incarcerated and expelled by the DPRK because of his military service during the Korean War.

Illegal substances [ edit ]

Drug trafficking and the consumption of narcotics can be punishable by death in North Korea. Although Marijuana is said to be found growing freely alongside the road in North Korea, its possession and consumption is illegal; in 2017, the Swedish Ambassador to North Korea stated that marijuana was illegal, and anyone caught using the drug could "expect no leniency whatsoever".

Religious activity [ edit ]

It is strongly recommended that you avoid bringing religious texts or performing any religious activity . In 2012, Kenneth Bae, an American Christian missionary, was arrested for his religious activities in North Korea and was sentenced to 15 years of hard labour (however, he was released nine months later). Another American, Jeffrey Fowle, was arrested for leaving a Bible at a North Korean nightclub and spent six months in a North Korean jail.

Emergency numbers [ edit ]

• From a fixed-line phone: 119
• From a mobile phone: 112

For medical emergencies in Pyongyang, dial 02 382-7688 locally.

Stay healthy [ edit ]

Drinking water in North Korea is apparently untreated and there are reports of foreigners being hospitalized in the DPRK after drinking the water; therefore, sticking to bottled water is highly recommended.

Medical facilities are clean although very outdated. If you fall ill then you might be better off going to China for medical treatment. Contact your embassy or consulate in North Korea (if your country has one) for assistance.

Respect [ edit ]

North and South Koreans share a common culture; you may find the various respect tips in the South Korea article to be of help.

Tour conduct [ edit ]

Your tour guide in North Korea is your best friend. They will do their best to explain the rules and what is expected from you. If a guide tells you not to do something, listen to them . If you're not sure about something, ask. That said, you should refrain from discussing sensitive subjects such as politics, economic systems, and human rights.

Any time you engage in unbecoming conduct, your guide will be blamed for being unable to control you, and they will be penalised for your misbehaviour. Always think before you act, and think before you speak; future tourists could face restrictions on what they can do in the country because of your behaviour.

Consider giving small gifts like cigarettes, skin creams, and so on to your guides. This will garner respect from the guides and depending on how well you conduct yourself, they may even take you to places and events in North Korea they wouldn't usually go to.

Although there are many terrific photo opportunities in North Korea, the DPRK has stringent photography laws. This largely depends on what guide you've been assigned. Do not take photographs of anything of strategic importance (i.e. places with soldiers/police officers, etc.), photographs that negatively portray the country, and things you've been told not to photograph. The North Korean authorities take these rules very seriously.

Sensitive issues [ edit ]

The government of the DPRK — in particular the leaders Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un — are, at least publicly, very highly revered in North Korean culture. While slavish devotion is not expected from tourists, any form of disrespect — such as criticisms or insults — towards the Kim dynasty, the Workers' Party of Korea, the North Korean government, Songun, and Juche is taken very seriously and severely punished. Keep your personal views about them to yourself.

Do not crumple, desecrate, inappropriately use, tamper with, or mishandle anything — this applies to newspapers, books, stamps, postcards, political posters, and money — bearing the names and images of the North Korean government, Kim Il-Sung, Kim Jong-Il, and Kim Jong-un. This is tantamount to treason, for which you can be severely punished.

It is advisable to refer to North Korea as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the official name for the country. When speaking Korean, South Korea should be referred to as "South Chosun" (남조선/南朝鮮) instead of "Hanguk" (한국/韓國).

For self-explanatory reasons, avoid praising South Korea , as doing so would attract unwanted attention from the North Korean authorities, and may invite more trouble than what's it worth. That said, do not criticize South Korea either, as they are still regarded as "brother Koreans", and you are a foreigner. For similar reasons, avoid praising the United States and Japan − both countries are considered adversaries of North Korea.

Most, if not all, tour groups to the DPRK are asked to solemnly bow and lay flowers on one or two occasions in front of statues of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il when visiting monuments of national importance. If you are not prepared to do this, you should not visit North Korea. When photographing statues, especially Mansudae, you are required to get the entire statue in the picture. Formal dress is also expected at important monuments such as Mansudae or visiting the Kumsusang Memorial Palace.

Religion [ edit ]

North Korea is officially atheist. The regime promotes a national philosophy of self-reliance called Juche (주체) which some would categorize as a quasi-religion that pervades all aspects of life in the country. As a tourist, you will not be expected to observe this, although you must always be respectful towards symbols of Juche which are often the images of past and present leaders Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un.

Other religions such as Christianity and Buddhism are vigorously suppressed in practice with severe punishment being given to followers. You should refrain from any religious discussions during your time in North Korea, and be aware that any form of religious proselytizing is dealt with very seriously by the regime, with foreign missionaries having previously been sentenced to life imprisonment in labor camps. With this in mind, be careful of performing even personal religious rituals or bringing religious items into the country and preferably do not do so at all.

Connect [ edit ]

By phone [ edit ].

For international calls to North Korea, the country code is +850 . Some phone numbers (mostly faxes) can be called directly from abroad; most other calls will need to go through the international operator service on +850-2-18111.

International calling is generally possible via landlines in hotels, though it is expensive (€2 per minute as of Feb 2012) and all calls are likely recorded and monitored.

Local calls need elusive 10 chon coins when calling from call boxes, but can also be made from hotels and post offices.

Additionally, your phone calls may be heavily monitored, so you should be careful of what you talk about in phone calls that you make in North Korea.

Mobile phones [ edit ]

As of January 2013, you are allowed to carry a mobile phone from outside the country into North Korea. You will not be able to use your current SIM card in North Korea, however. The only network you are allowed to connect to is the local network, Koryolink, via one of their SIM cards. Your phone must be a 3G WCDMA phone which can connect to the 2100MHz 3G frequency band.

A 3G mobile phone network (Koryolink) was introduced in Pyongyang in 2008 and now covers the 42 largest cities. It is widely used by locals who can afford it and by long-staying foreigners who file an application. SIM cards and phones can be purchased at the International Communication Center, No.2 Pothonggang-dong in Pothonggang District, opposite the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium, as well as at Pyongyang airport and some hotels. As of 25 Feb 2013, 3G mobile internet via Koryolink is available to foreigners, although pricing is unknown. Bear in mind that these SIM cards will only let you call internationally and to a very small number of internationally-enabled phones in North Korea. There are three plans you can choose from for your SIM card:

• Purchase a prepaid SIM card for €50. This gives you the SIM card to keep indefinitely for return visits, and includes a small amount (less than €30) of calling credit.
• Rent a prepaid SIM card for two weeks for €50. This includes €30 of calling credit.
• Rent a prepaid SIM card for one month for €75. This includes €55 of calling credit.

Calling rates are as follows:

• China and South-East Asia: €1.43 per minute.
• Russia: €0.68 per minute.
• France and Switzerland: €0.38 per minute.
• U.K. and Germany: €1.58 per minute.

By Internet [ edit ]

Internet facilities are limited to a very few North Koreans with appropriate privileges to use it. For foreigners, most of the larger hotels have Internet access available, but this needs to be applied for some days in advance. Advise your tour operator or inviting party of your requirements well ahead of time so that access permission can be arranged. There are no public internet cafés or business centres with web access in the hotels. Mobile internet is available via Koryolink's 3G network (see above) using a local SIM card, but details about this are scarce. Also, even if you have Internet access, your traffic will probably be monitored. There is very little Internet connectivity in North Korea; the little that exists is routed through mainland China and risks heavy censorship by that country's Golden Shield Project, the " Great Firewall of China ".

Cope [ edit ]

There is a growing diplomatic presence of foreign embassies in Pyongyang . Find out beforehand which country can assist you in case of an emergency, such as a medical condition or a police incident.

Sweden serves as the protecting power for American, Australian, and Canadian travellers in North Korea, so these visitors may be able to obtain limited consular services from the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang. American nationals are not allowed by the U.S. Department of State to visit North Korea, although if you must then it is still recommended to notify (by email) the Swedish embassy of your visit to North Korea, as well as to inform the U.S. embassy in Beijing, China, particularly if your trip to North Korea entails passing through China.

The British embassy offers consular services to Commonwealth citizens who do not have representation through other countries, except for Singaporeans and Tanzanians, whose governments have opted out of this arrangement.

Media [ edit ]

Foreign media outlets and newspapers are banned by the North Korean government; you may only access media outlets and newspapers owned and operated by the North Korean government.

You can expect to come across fringe and controversial views of the United States , Japan , South Korea , Israel , and Western culture in North Korean media. For example, one article published in the Pyongyang Times claimed that the United States is the world's "worst democracy strangler". Putting this aside, exposing yourself to North Korean media is an excellent way to understand how things are in the world's most secretive country, the views of the North Korean government, and what people are exposed to over here.

• Korean Central News Agency . The state news agency of North Korea. Available in Korean, Russian, English, Mandarin, Japanese, and Spanish.  

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Must-see attractions in North Korea

Tower of the Juche Idea

This tower honours the North Korean philosophy of Juche and was unveiled to mark President Kim Il-sung's 70th birthday in 1982. Indeed, the tower is made…

International Friendship Exhibition

North Korea

This exhibition hosts a massive display of gifts given to Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un. Housed in a mountainside vault that is vaguely…

Tomb of King Kongmin

The 31st Koryo king, Kongmin reigned between 1352 and 1374 and his tomb is the best preserved and most elaborate in the country. It is richly decorated…

Monument to the Foundation of the Workers' Party

This startlingly bombastic monument has starred on the cover of more books about North Korea than almost any other. The three hands portrayed represent…

Mansudae Grand Monument

Every itinerary includes an homage to these vast bronze statues of the smiling Great Leader and Dear Leader, the latter in his trademark parka. The first…

Kim Il-sung Square

Pyongyang’s central square is where North Korea’s massive military parades normally take place. The plaza is ringed by austere-looking buildings: most…

Pyongyang Metro

Visiting the impressive Pyongyang metro is definitely a highlight of the capital. The network, which is made up of two lines, has a simultaneous function…

Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum

Perhaps the most interesting museum in Pyongyang, this mouthful of an institution opened its current home in 2013 to mark the 60th anniversary of the end…

Triumphal Arch

Your guides will tell you proudly that the Triumphal Arch is 6m higher than its cousin in Paris, making it the largest of its kind in the world. The arch…

Rajin Market

Tours here usually take in this fascinating, modern market, the only one in the country tourists are allowed to visit and shop at. Sadly, however,…

Chollima Statue

This impressive statue portrays Chollima, the Korean Pegasus. It’s an interesting example of how the North Korean state has incorporated traditional…

The USS Pueblo is a US surveillance vessel that was seized by the North Koreans off the east coast of Korea in January 1968, during a heightening of…

Monument to the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War 1950–53

This impressive monument, which was unveiled in 1993 to mark the 40th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, now forms part of the display of the…

Kim Il-sung Mural

This massive mural depicts the hypothetical scene of the joyful masses celebrating Kim Il-sung's arrival in Pyongyang, even though the event wasn't quite…

Tower of Immortality

The writing on this tower, through the base of which traffic drives, pledges that the 'Great Leader Kim Il-sung and the Dear Leader Kim Jong-il will…

The sad sight of a divided nation remains one of the most poignant aspects of any trip to North Korea. Even if you're just in North Korea for a couple of…

Paekdu, one of the most stunning sights on the Korean peninsula, straddles the Chinese–Korean border in the very far northeastern tip of DPRK. Apart from…

This is Pyongyang’s top recreation ground: couples wander, families picnic and there are people playing guitars and sometimes even dancing in an…

Tomb of Tan'gun

History continues to evolve in North Korea, with new revolutionary discoveries being made every year. While the government announced in 1993 that its…

Kumsusan Memorial Palace of the Sun

Kim Il-sung’s residence during his lifetime, the Kumsusan Palace remained so after his death. North Koreans come here en masse to pay their respects to…

Pyongyang Film Studios

Several films a year are churned out by the country’s main film studios in the suburbs of Pyongyang. The two main focuses are predictably the anti…

Museum of American War Atrocities

This museum, built next door to its predecessor, details the atrocities allegedly carried out by US forces against civilians during the Korean War. Since…

Three Revolutions Exhibition

A surreal, enormous exhibition complex, North Korea’s answer to Florida’s Epcot theme park details the ‘three revolutions’ Kim Il-sung brought about in…

West Sea Barrage

The reason tourists come here (usually on an overnight stop en route to Kaesong) is to see this barrage, built across an 8km estuary of the Taedong River,…

Songgyungwan Neo-Confucian College

This well-preserved college, originally built in AD 992 and rebuilt after being destroyed in the 1592 Japanese invasion, today hosts the Koryo Museum,…

Samjiyon Grand Monument

Set in a huge clearing in the woods with views to Paekdusan and overlooking a large lake, this must be North Korea's most impressive paean to the…

Pyohon Temple

The most historically important Buddhist temple in western North Korea, the Pyohon Temple complex dates back to 1044, with numerous renovations over the…

Grand People's Study House

This impressive building on Kim Il-sung Sq is the country’s largest library and centre of Juche studies, where any North Korean over 17 can come for free…

Ryugyong Hotel

Three decades after construction began on this extraordinary hotel in 1987, it still has not been completed. Planned as a prestige project but abandoned…

Korean Revolution Museum

Despite the museum’s rather misleading name, its main function is to document the death of Kim Il-sung (including a film of the extraordinary public…

Kim Il-sung's Birthplace

The suburb of Mangyongdae houses the place of Kim Il-sung’s birth, a typical Korean peasant house with a thatched roof and a block of living rooms, as…

Party Founding Museum

Located on the southern slope of Haebang Hill is this museum that originally housed the Central Committee of the Korean Workers’ Party, as well as Kim Il…

Hungnam Fertiliser Factory

The Hungnam Fertiliser Factory can sometimes be visited, where you will be shown how ammonia is made deep inside an enormous industrial complex that hasn…

Mangyongdae Funfair

After the relentless propaganda, you can relax with some day trippers from the capital at the Mangyongdae Funfair, a pleasant oasis built around the base…

Ryongmun Big Cave

It's common for tours to visit this 6km-long limestone cave either prior to or after a visit to Myohyangsan. It has some enormous caverns and a large…

Songin Monument

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Taehung Trading Corporation

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Home of Ryi Song Gye

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Liberation Tower

This stone column topped with a red star commemorates the Soviet liberation of Pyongyang from Japanese rule in 1945. Built in 1947, it is thoroughly…

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North Korea Travel Guide: How to Visit Pyongyang as a Tourist

North Korea is one of the most secretive and mysterious countries in the world, yet before Covid-19 struck, the nation had also begun opening its arms to tourism.

This is how Jordan Simons visited Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, for 3 days as a tourist in December 2019.

UPDATE: This information was correct as of December 2019, however, because of the recent Covid-19 pandemic, the situation may now be different. Please scroll to the bottom of the article for the latest information.

Table of Contents

What do you need to know about North Korea before you go?

Here’s everything you need to know about travelling to North Korea:

How to book a tour to North Korea

Tourism in North Korea is unlike anywhere else on the planet, so it’s important to know what to expect before you go. Once you’ve crossed the border, your every move will be monitored and controlled by your local guides, and everything they allow you to do has been pre-authorised by the North Korean government. You’ll be on a strict itinerary, which means you can only go where they allow you to go. We can’t stress this enough, but if you step out of line, then you could get into some serious trouble.

Still interested? Ok then.. this is how you can arrange a trip to North Korea.

Read more: 9 Facts About North Korea (That You Haven’t Heard Before)

The first thing you need to know is that you are required to go through a specialised tour company. There are a few of them out there and they have varying itineraries and price points. The main operators currently are Koryo Tours, Lupine Travel and Young Pioneer Tours.

I went through Young Pioneer Tours , as it was recommended by a couple of friends of mine that had been previously. They have various options depending on your budget and time. Since I was short on time and was doing this as an add-on to my Great Wall of China Marathon trip, I opted for their 3-day Ultra Budget tour, which at the time of writing cost 495 Euros.

How to get a North Korea visa : The Chinese Visa Comes First

The tour I booked was overland via a train from China, which meant that I needed to get a multiple or double-entry China visa. You could either meet the group in Beijing or the weird border town of Dandong. I opted for the latter and covered the eery experience in the below YouTube video.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get the correct Chinese visa. We needed to get a double entry (to enable us to get the train back across the border) but something went wrong and they only gave me a single-entry China visa. I was told after that this is a common problem and it’s a much better idea to get a visa agent to handle it than put in the application yourself.

I had to pay an extra 400 euros to fly out of Pyongyang back to Beijing instead, in order to get the transit visa on arrival when landing back in China. It was my fault really; they advised me to get the Chinese visa through an agent and I ignored that advice to save costs! I went directly to the Chinese visa office in Bangkok, which apparently rarely gives out multiple entry visas – especially relating to travel to North Korea. You live, you learn!

There are also tours that do not require a double-entry China visa, as they fly in and out of Pyongyang. This allows you to qualify for a Chinese transit visa on the way there and back. This might be worth it for you depending on the length of the trip, the itinerary and the overall costs.

The North Korea Visa Guide

Ok so that’s the Chinese visa side of the process explained, but how about getting the North Korean visa? For me, Young Pioneer Tours arranged everything for my North Korea visa. All I had to do was fill out some forms and send a copy of my passport over email. This is standard practice for tour companies and they handle every part of the process (and that’s included in the cost of the tour).

So roughly a month before the trip, I sent a photocopy of my passport and filled out a form and that was genuinely it. Easy!

All I had to do next was meet them at the meeting point in Dandong China and they had the North Korea visa card ready for me. Compared to securing a Chinese visa, getting a North Korean visa is simple!

How can US Citizens get a North Korean visa?

Currently, most nationalities from around the world are able to get a North Korean visa, with the exception of people travelling on a US passport.

On 1st September 2017, the US enacted a travel ban on all US citizens travelling to NK. This was in response to the death of Otto Warmbier , who had fallen into a coma while imprisoned in North Korea and died soon after being returned back to his home country.

Because of this, all tour companies decided not to accept anyone travelling on a US passport.

Now I won’t beat around the bush. There are always inherent dangers when travelling to North Korea. It’s still not exactly clear what happened with Otto Warmbier, and I don’t feel I’m qualified to talk about it really, but just understand that this is a reality. It’s something that happened and it’s well worth being aware of before you think about visiting the country. DO YOUR RESEARCH. Most importantly: FOLLOW THE RULES when you’re in North Korea (something Otto Warmbier failed to do).

However, if you are a US citizen with dual citizenship and you have a second passport, you could travel at your own risk.

How long should you visit North Korea?

I went for 3 days but if I’m honest, I wish I had gone longer. The only reason I didn’t book a longer tour is that I was planning to be on another trip straight after and so had a conflict of dates. Unfortunately, that other trip didn’t work out, but that’s a story for another day!

I only had limited time, so I did the 3-day ultra-budget tour option. It meant that I got to see the limited highlights of Pyongyang but if I were you, I would do at least a week inside the country to really gain an insight into what North Korea has to offer – especially as you venture outside the capital on longer tours.

The longer tours enable you to see more of the North Korean countryside, visit the DMZ with South Korea and in many cases, interact with the local people in a more intimate way.

What can you take into North Korea?

If you are travelling to North Korea there are a few things you shouldn’t take with you, and please look up the list in full before going. Examples are religious texts, North Korean history books, guide books, any pornographic material and cameras with GPS ability (including drones).

As it happens, I was told you can get away with the GPS function on cameras (as most of our smartphones have it anyway). Just don’t be too obvious about it and do this at your own risk. Most people chose to leave their laptops and drones in their hostels or hotels back in China.

You are free to take photos and videos of most things – and are actively encouraged by the tour guides (after all, they only take you to where they want you to go!) – with the exception of military sites, military personnel and construction sites. This is also the case in many other countries, however, they are particularly strict on this matter and will go through your camera to delete photos and videos if you are caught.

Is North Korea safe to visit?

In terms of your safety within the country, I don’t believe I’ve ever been somewhere that has felt this safe – hear me out.

The main reason I’m saying that is that there is almost zero crime on a personal level. Theft, for example, is very unlikely to happen to a foreigner. I had no problem leaving my camera and lens in one carriage of the train while I was in the next.

While I completely understand that this is because the thief would receive the harshest of punishments and likely be treated in a very inhumane manner, I believe it’s a fact that is worth pointing out.

You’re also on a tour all the time with two North Korean guides, so there’s very little chance that anyone would target your tour group for any crime.

This obviously does not endorse your safety on a political level, as there is always a chance that North Korea could suddenly change its policy and hold you as a prisoner or worse. This is a reality and is definitely something that should be considered.

To make this clear, this article is just about how I visited North Korea as a tourist and my own personal experience. I am not saying that you SHOULD go there and obviously there are real risks involved.

For example, the GOV UK website advises against ALL but essential travel to North Korea. I’m not exactly sure what essential travel would be, but that’s the official advice.

The main thing I would say as well is that if you do go, just follow the advice of your guides. Here are some simple rules to follow:

• Do not make childish jokes about their idealogy or their leaders
• Do not wander away from the group and ignore the guidance you’ve been given.
• Follow the laws of their country while you’re there, the same as you would in any other country.

Can you still travel to North Korea after the Covid-19 outbreak?

North Korea was one of the first countries to close its borders after the Coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China. They did this in February 2020, roughly a month before other countries around the world closed their own.

Experts have said that they made this move because they could not handle an outbreak within their own country due to insufficient hospitals and medical care. As it stands, they have also banned all foreign visitors from coming into the country in the near future.

While this may change over time, we do not expect the borders to be open to foreign visitors any time soon. I would suggest finding the latest news on North Korean travel on the Young Pioneer blog or Facebook page – https://www.youngpioneertours.com/blogs/

Check back in the future if you’re interested in learning more and please ask any questions you have about travelling to North Korea in the comments below.

As always, thanks for reading.

Traveler & Content Creator

My name is Jordan Simons and over the past few years I've learned how to travel the world continuously. Now I want to show you how to do the same.

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A Tourist in North Korea

Will foreigners soon flock to the Hermit Kingdom? Should they?

It was early summer, a time for rice planting and balmy weather, yet North Korea’s first ski resort was open. Masikryong is a complex of nine slopes, imported ski lifts, and grand ambitions to host international tournaments. The nine-floor chalet had a mahjong room, swimming pool, sauna, and spa, complete with peculiar Japanese full-body driers. Its shop sold European ski gear, cheeses, chocolate cake, and Spam—most of it expired—plus a 16-liter glass bottle of traditional snake liquor, with two suffocated serpents tangled up inside. Besides the staff, there was almost no one there.

Masikryong is one of North Korea’s newest and most opulent tourist ventures, and on a recent eight-day trip to the country, my tour group and I were paraded around the site as if we were potential investors. The entire ski resort was built in 10 months by the country’s military under what our guides called the “wise leadership” of young ruler Kim Jong Un (photos show the ski-less Kim in a lift chair). The chalet looked distinctly alpine, and we suggested to our guides that perhaps the leader was inspired by his time studying in Switzerland. They seemed surprised, claiming not to know of the Kim brothers’ European studies, or even that Kim had siblings. For now, North Korea’s leader may be almost as much of a mystery to his own citizens as he is to the outside world .

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The Hermit Kingdom is, paradoxically, in the midst of an unprecedented tourism push (one that was reportedly put on hold last week out of concern about Ebola). Since Kim Jong Un came to power in 2011, several prestige projects have sprung up in North Korea: a waterpark, a dolphinarium, an equestrian club, a shooting range replete with live pheasants. These cheerful and contemporary sites are on an ever-expanding list of permitted destinations for foreign visitors. And there are more in the pipeline. Pyongyang Sunan International Airport is undergoing expansion. There are plans for an underwater hotel complex in Wonsan, a sleepy resort town by the sea. Soon, the regime hopes 1 million foreigners will visit the country annually—a number that would put North Korea roughly on par with Sri Lanka as a tourist destination. Still, that’s just a fraction of the 12 million tourists that visited South Korea last year.

While its goals are grand, North Korea’s tourism industry has gradually grown since it first opened up in the late 1980s, and the nation is no longer the world’s least-visited country ( Libya , Afghanistan , and Moldova , among others, receive fewer foreign tourists). Nowadays, for all North Korea’s diplomatic isolation—not to mention its recent arrests of tourists—it is surprisingly easy to go. Western tour operators estimate that the Hermit Kingdom gets 100,000 or more yearly visitors ( about the same as Bhutan), the vast majority from China. And in addition to frequenting North Korea’s conventional tourist stops like monuments, war museums, and mass athletic performances , tour operators can increasingly go off the beaten path (though always as part of an official tour), offering cycling, golfing, and hiking. In July, the country’s pristine coastlines saw some of their first surfers .

Simon Cockerell, the veteran tour leader of the British-run, Beijing-based Koryo Tours , which has taken tourists to North Korea since 1993, now whisks about 2,000 visitors a year to the country, a quarter of them American. Andrea Lee, a Korean-American who runs Uri Tours , a boutique, New Jersey-based operator that arranged my trip and played a role in the first of former NBA star Dennis Rodman ’s visits to North Korea, said in an interview that she was in the country during last year’s nuclear test and didn’t even notice it. Tour operators insist that as long as tourists obey local laws, North Korea—a country with virtually no crime or terrorism—is one of the world’s safest places.

And indeed, the three local guides who boarded our tour bus as soon as we landed in the country promised that we had nothing to fear. The two basic rules—no disrespecting the leaders, no photographing the military (except, apparently, at the tourist stop along the Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ, where pictures are occasionally tolerated)—sounded almost disappointingly simple. North Korea’s tourism strategy, the guides told us, is aimed at showing that North Koreans are “not crazy, not dangerous, just different”—a catchphrase they repeated throughout the trip. We headed straight from the airport to Pyongyang’s grand monuments: a triumphal arch that our guides boasted was 10 meters taller than Paris’s, and the colossal statues of North Korea’s founding president, Kim Il Sung, and his son, Kim Jong Il (Kim Jong Un doesn’t yet have a statue). We paid our respects with two bouquets of fluorescent artificial flowers before lining up in front of the bronze giants and bowing.

Like most tourists, we stayed at the Yanggakdo International Hotel in Pyongyang, which was completed in 1992 and features glass elevators, a revolving restaurant on the 47th floor, and a mysteriously inaccessible fifth floor . The building includes a 24-hour tailor, Egyptian-themed nightclub, and Macanese-run casino, as well as a beauty parlor in the bunker-like basement—virtually every amenity imaginable, except for Wi-Fi. There seemed to be no reason to leave (and anyway you can’t— it’s on an island ). In the morning, city-wide wake-up alarms jolted me out of bed as the sun rose over Pyongyang’s pastel skyscrapers.

The showcase capital is in some sense a living museum of the Cold War era. The communist kitsch—handpainted propaganda posters, grim workers’ uniforms, socialist catchphrases—was everywhere. But there were also signs of foreign, modernizing—even capitalist—influences. One restaurant played a Korean version of the 1980s Europop hit “Brother Louie.” There are so many imported cars that the city is experiencing its first traffic jams. At the country’s international airport, citizens returned from abroad carrying boxes of new Sony Bravia flatscreens through customs. Even the souvenir shop at the DMZ sold Coca-Cola, and a foreign resident—the city now has around 600, mostly from China and Russia, according to expats I met in Pyongyang—testified that Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is available in shops (given U.S. trade embargoes, these products likely arrive via the flourishing black market ).

The government is also cautiously relaxing the rules governing its tightly controlled tourism industry. The essentials haven’t changed: All tourists need a government permit and must travel on official guided tours, whose every meal, bathroom break, and souvenir stop is meticulously scheduled. Yet tourists are generally allowed to take photos and videos, and cell phones are not confiscated at the airport. While the average North Korean can’t get online, visitors can buy 3G SIM cards at the airport and use an Egyptian-built network to post on social media as they wish. This year, amateur foreign runners participated in Pyongyang’s marathon for the first time.

In North Korea, I regularly caught glimpses of what appeared to be mundane life and everyday happiness: uniformed military couples holding hands at Pyongyang’s funfair; roller-skating girls in pink sweats buying ice cream; bored parents waiting on benches in the shade. In a country often portrayed as incomprehensibly foreign, the familiar seemed bizarre.

Perhaps it’s due to this cognitive dissonance that signs of a more nuanced and normal North Korea are so rare outside the country. Speculation in Western and South Korean media frequently reduces the enigmatic country to a caricature, and these rumors amused our guides endlessly: the “mandatory” state-sanctioned haircuts (no one has one), the “executed” girl band Moranbong (still alive, as we saw on TV while visiting a Pyongyang craft-beer brewery), and the stubborn legend that Pyongyang’s subway passengers are all actors, hired to create an illusion of normalcy. Parts of Pyongyang’s subway—which our guides said was a gift from the Soviet Union—are open to foreigners, and as we rode the rails during rush hour, the system seemed not all that different from New York’s, albeit slower and cleaner. Commuters read papers or looked down at cell phones. It seemed narcissistic to believe that the government had employed hundreds of actors with the murky goal of convincing tourists that North Korea is an ordinary place, rather than accepting the more logical explanation that Pyongyang’s residents commute just like everyone else. An old man with a fishing rod seated opposite me glanced away from an animated discussion with his companion, smiled, and pretended to reel me in. If he was another cog in North Korea’s public-relations machinery, the regime had a sense of humor.

We had no illusions that we were seeing anything beyond what North Korea’s government allowed us to—and certainly not evidence of the country’s abysmal human-rights record , including forced-labor camps and public executions. Instead, our guides attempted to show us a people’s socialist utopia populated by rosy-cheeked women at collective farms and suit-clad university students. Even our visit to the DMZ was mostly lighthearted; we encountered two busloads of Chinese visitors, and young border soldiers teased each other about the female tourists. Our guides, meanwhile, were witty and worldly, joking about the North Korean film industry’s struggle to recruit Western actors to play American imperialists and frequently referencing Titanic (a film all had seen multiple times, though they wouldn’t explain how). The guides answered our questions on everything from nukes, famine, and war (all blamed on American imperialism), to dating (it’s popular to take dates to sporting events), international sanctions, and even prison camps (whose existence they denied, in contrast to the recent admission of a North Korean Foreign Ministry official).

Still, even judging by my carefully curated travels, North Korea was also inescapably heartbreaking. If Pyongyang looked almost modern, time stood still in the countryside, where rice is planted by hand and the few vehicles run off burning wood. In Hamhung, a dusty town of bleak houses and empty streets, a beautiful lady in traditional dress proudly told us that visiting foreigners had been so in awe of the city (North Korea’s second-largest) that they felt it should be the country’s capital. At times, and despite our guides’ best efforts, we saw North Korea for what it is: a Cold War relic, left alone as its allies fell with the Berlin Wall, still fighting an ideological battle that has been all but forgotten everywhere else. Returning to Pyongyang, ours was the only vehicle on a ghostly eight-lane highway, originally built as a lifeline between the capital and the coast and now mostly idle, our guide said, because sanctions have halted trade. Uniformed workers appeared outside our windows, sweeping flower petals off the cracking asphalt.

Many North Korea experts believe the country’s tourism campaign stems from its need for foreign currency rather than hope of diplomatic rapprochement with the international community. Tourism, a sector exempt from sanctions, could provide a minor boost to North Korea’s economy. If that’s the case, though, does visiting North Korea help support a rogue, nuclear-armed regime more interested in megaprojects than feeding its people ?

Charles Armstrong, professor of Korean Studies at Columbia University, said in an interview that North Korea’s tourism industry is currently too small to make much money for the leadership, and that its public-relations value is limited too, since few tourists return home full of praise for the country. On the other hand, Armstrong said that if the number of tourists increases substantially, it will be harder for the government to control contact between foreigners and citizens, as well as the information about North Korea that visitors bring back to their countries.

But Kim Jong Un’s new focus on tourism doesn’t necessarily signal that his regime is opening up. “North Korea has never been a ‘Hermit Kingdom’ in the sense of cutting itself off entirely from the outside world,” Armstrong explained. “Rather, the government has tried to control external contact as much as possible and limit North Korean citizens’ exposure to foreigners and ‘dangerous’ foreign influences.” He added that the tourism push, which is occurring alongside a tightening of border security and an escalation of internal surveillance, could be a pragmatic part of this larger strategy.

According to Andrei Lankov, professor of Korean Studies at Seoul’s Kookmin University, Pyongyang has always searched for ways to fill government coffers while leaving the old system intact—and is now turning to tourism to do so.

“They want tourists—preferably not those noisy Chinese, but well-behaving and dirty-rich Westerners—to come, to spend [a] few days in North Korea or, rather, in specially designed tourists ghettos, to happily pay exorbitant prices for pretty much everything, and then leave,” Lankov said by email.

Lankov dismissed the regime’s target of attracting 1 million foreign visitors as a “pipe dream.” There’s a limit, he argued, to what the country can offer tourists. The climate is cold, there are no great beaches, the architectural heritage is modest, and what locals see as the embodiment of extreme luxury won’t impress well-traveled Westerners.

“So far, North Korea attracts those Westerners who love to go to weird and unusual places: People want to see a Stalinist dictatorship in its ugly glory, and this is indeed what they get from their trips,” Lankov explained. “But how many people are interested in this type of tourism and are willing to pay [a] hefty sum for such things?”

Cockerell of Koryo Tours, who has organized initiatives such as sports exchanges and documentary film projects , said his business seeks to promote mutual understanding and dialogue. “We believe that pretty much every act of human-level engagement works to humanize both sides,” he said. Lee of Uri Tours agrees, noting that “tourism becomes a space where we can try to take a bit of the focus off of the political and historical mistrust that exists between the DPRK and the West.” With a laugh, she recalled the question a North Korean child once asked her about living in America: “But don’t they kill you?”

Contrary to popular belief, tourists in North Korea can and do interact with locals. At the waterpark, a nervous 17-year-old waitress inquired in poor English about my age, family, and country of origin until she ran out of words and just smiled. At a remote rest stop in the mountains, a group of women shyly approached me and toyed with my hair, telling me through Uri Tours’ Lee, who translated, that I was the first foreigner they’d seen outside of films. At an ice rink, a middle-aged man who was skating and holding hands with two women suddenly grabbed me and swept me around the rink. Opera blasted from a screen on the wall as he yelled in heavily accented English: “friends!” One evening, over beer and a billiards game, I asked one of my guides if North Koreans are indeed happier than people in the West, as North Korean propaganda often suggests. He hesitated, then shook his head. A middle-aged father, he hoped that his son would one day travel abroad and learn about the wider world, but admitted that the chances of him doing so were slim given North Korea's international isolation.

Lankov, who grew up in Leningrad in the 1970s, is optimistic about tourism’s possible side effects for North Korea. Through visitors, he believes, locals may come to see North Korean society as poor and regimented—just as Soviet citizens did by meeting visiting Finnish workers who spent cash like Soviet elites.

“Tourism means exposure: If North Koreans remain isolated and know nothing about the outside world, how would you expect them to start demanding change?” he wondered. “How on earth can they learn that there are better ways to live and run society?”

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 .

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.

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!

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.

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!

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'You would have to be a lunatic': Tourists to North Korea describe risks and rewards

Some visitors to the country have dismissed claims that travellers are exposing themselves to danger while others say threats are obvious

James left North Korea this year with smuggled currency, stamps and a poster of “the great leader,” Kim Il Sung, that he bought on the black market.

Months later, James’s fellow American, Otto Warmbier, died after suffering from a mysterious brain injury while in detention in North Korea, accused of stealing a propaganda poster from a hotel.

The US State Department has long recommended against travel to North Korea, but Warmbier’s death prompted Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to authorize his department to block Americans from traveling to the country. The ban was announced on Friday and could go into effect as soon as late August.

Recent visitors to the country and tourist agencies have dismissed claims that travellers are exposing themselves to danger, though James, who bypassed the state’s security apparatus with smuggled goods in hand, cautioned Americans against such travel.

“I wouldn’t mind seeing more of North Korea but honestly with the saber-rattling going on right now I think you’d almost have to be a lunatic to be an American and to roll out there,” James told the Guardian. “Unless you were a proselytizing Christian and you really felt it was your God’s duty, I can’t imagine why you would go out there right now”.

The Guardian is not identifying James by his real name to protect the North Koreans he encountered on his trip.

An estimated 5,000 Westerners – including about 800 Americans – visit North Korea every year through tourism agencies.

Last month Young Pioneer Tours – the same agency that arranged Warmbier’s visit – said it would no longer take Americans into the country having deemed the risk “too high,” while other agencies are reviewing whether to accept US visitors in the wake of his death.

A source in the North Korean tourist industry challenged the idea that Americans are deliberately targeted.

“The problem isn’t nationality, but the arbitrary nature of the justice system if you break the law. The idea that if you’re American and go to North Korea you’re at risk of being taken as a political hostage just isn’t true,” the source, who did not wish to be named, told the Guardian.

‘It’s not Cornwall’

“I’m not suggesting that it’s risk free – it’s not Cornwall. But people who go to North Korea already know that.”

While foreign detainees are generally treated better than the tens of thousands of North Koreans held in the country’s network of political prison camps, Warmbier’s death has moved the US to declare the country a no-go zone for its citizens.

State department spokesperson, Heather Nauret, said in a statement that Tillerson implemented a Geographical Travel Restriction (GTR), “due to mounting concerns over the serious risk of arrest and long-term detention under North Korea’s system of law enforcement”.

The GTR law allows the secretary of state to unilaterally implement a travel ban and has been used in the last fifty years to stop Americans from visiting Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, Cuba and Libya.

Drew Binksy, an American who visited North Korea in April as part of his attempt to visit every country in the world , challenged the notion that Americans should not visit the country.

He can speak Korean and was able to chat with a few locals during his trip.

“I told them I was American and they were pretty interested and were asking me questions,” Binsky said. “They didn’t seem to be intimidated by America or have any hatred towards America, which was reassuring”.

Binsky was in a tour group with mostly Australians and Europeans and said he was treated the same way they were.

Though, there was one striking difference: how prominent the US was in propaganda. Binsky said he expected to see these images, which included depictions of people burning down the White House and dropping bombs on New York City.

The imagery also stood out to James, who saw posters that characterized Americans as “terrorist criminals” and said they sent diseases like the plague and cholera to North Korea. “It was so anti-American in places, I felt uncomfortable,” he said.

But in conversations with North Koreans, James did not experience that hostility.

“What I saw all over North Korea was Koreans,” James said. “I didn’t see weirdos, aliens and monsters”.

‘Don’t go with your eyes closed’

Scott MacPherson and Ross King visited North Korea in April with Young Pioneer Tours, and said they did not feel like they were at risk, in part because they are Scottish.

“I wouldn’t go if I were an American, but as a Brit I never felt I was at risk of being arrested and being used as a political pawn,” MacPherson said. “But you certainly shouldn’t go there with your eyes closed.”

Some have argued that all leisure travel to North Korea is morally questionable , claiming that that the estimated $30m to $40m the regime earns from tourism helps fund its nuclear weapons programmes and gulags. At the very least, they say, it lends legitimacy to a regime guilty of human rights abuses the UN has described as “without parallel in the contemporary world”.

In a recent online commentary, Suki Kim, a Korean American writer who spent six months in North Korea posing as a university teacher, described tourism to the country as “torture porn”.

“Casually touring North Korea is akin to hiking at Auschwitz under the Nazis,” Kim wrote .

King said he and his friends were aware that North Korea is a “terrible, oppressive regime”, but disputed that by visiting the country they were tacitly approving of the regime’s treatment of its people.

“I think people need to go to North Korea so that people there can have firsthand contact with Westerners,” he said. “Unlike apartheid South Africa, North Korea is already cut off from the rest of the world, so nothing is going to change by isolating it further. I’m not suggesting that we’re going to effect regime change, but our visit was a chance to engage in cultural exchange, and we all learned a lot from it”.

TRAVEL ADVICE

The US state department “strongly warns” US citizens not to travel to North Korea, and notes that at least 16 Americans have been detained there in the past decade.

The Australian government advises people “to reconsider your need to travel to (North Korea) due to restrictions placed on foreigners and very different laws and regulations applying to behaviour, as well as intermittent (North Korean) threats against international interests”.

New Zealand identifies the country as “high risk” and advises against “all tourist and other non-essential travel”.

The British government does not advise against visiting North Korea , but urges travellers to “follow the political and security situation very closely and stay in touch with your host organisation or tour operator”.

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Trump: I took Kim at his word over Otto Warmbier's torture

US to ban citizens from travel to North Korea after Otto Warmbier's death

North Korea denies US student Otto Warmbier was tortured

Otto Warmbier funeral: thousands gather to mourn 'profound loss'

Otto warmbier's family declines autopsy as trump calls death a 'total disgrace'.

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How to Visit North Korea’s DMZ Border (Updated 2023)

A s controversial a place as North Korea is, it's swiftly gaining attention from the curious tourist eye. Our intrigue to see it was piqued during a visit to Seoul with friends. Having now taken the DMZ tour ourselves, this highly informative if not haunting experience is one we would highly recommend . So, if you've got guts and a desire to get a snippet into one of the most closed countries on earth, here's how to do it!

Getting there & where to stay

First, you need to get yourself to Seoul, which is the nearest major city to the DMZ border. South Korea is only reachable by flight, with most planes flying into Incheon International Airport. Use Skyscanner and search by entire month to see the cheapest dates to fly. Be sure to check our flight booking hacks here to get yourself the best price. And don't forget to book your airport transfer and a 4G Data SIM card before you land!

A fast way to get a big discount on your flight is to sign up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card. This card offers a massive sign-up bonus of 60,000 bonus points (worth $750 ) after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. United and Singapore Airlines are both partner airlines of this card, and both offer flights to Seoul, meaning you can convert your points to these airline loyalty programs, or just book directly through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Seoul is a buzzing megacity with plenty of enticing accommodation options. There are plentiful  AirBNBs  and  hotel  selections, but be sure to reserve ahead in peak season. Some convenient neighbourhood options include Hongdae, Itaewon, Myeongdong, Gangnam, and Jamsil. Check  TripAdvisor  for more local tips and advice.

There is plenty to explore in Seoul itself, and a local guide can help ensure you catch the best of the best. Be sure to check out the Gyeongbok Palace & Temple , or grab the Seoul Pass , which grants free entry to 65 attractions and discounted entry to 101 more.

How to visit North Korea's DMZ Border:

Step 1. choose your points of interest.

There are several companies that operate DMZ tours. As much as I despise group tours, you can only visit the DMZ with a tour , as it has restricted civilian access and requires a mandatory military escort.

No two tours are the same, but you should choose one based on your budget, customer reviews, and points of interest that are included. Tours can be browsed with reviews, prices, and instant confirmation through Klook , GetYourGuide and Viator . The main highlights to select from are as follows:

The Joint Security Area (JSA)

Located in Panmunjom, the JSA is the closest point a tourist can get to North Korea . At this spot, you'll have a chance to physically stand in North Korea itself and take a photo as proof (more on that below). This area is occupied by the South Korean and US military, and is complete with a gift shop selling original items from North Korea, including stamps, money, and wine (which in our experience tastes like nail polish remover and turpentine but hey, at least you can say you tried it).

NOTE: As of 2023, the JSA is still closed to visitors due to COVID, and is not included in any tours.

Odusan Unification Observatory

One can safely view day-to-day life in North Korea without setting foot in the country at Mt Odu Observatory. Binoculars (free of charge) provide ultra zoomed up views of North Korea opposite the Han river below. On our visit we were able to see civilians walking around on the other side.

Infiltration Tunnels

Scarily enough, around the time that the North and South were having peace talks, North Korea began digging underground tunnels to infiltrate the South. They were never completed, but were discovered in 1984. The longest tunnel is 1,082 metres. The 3rd tunnel is the closest to Seoul (only 44km away) and could move ~30,000 troops and artillery per hour.

Dora Observatory

This observatory offers binocular views of North Korea's fake town, Kijong-dong. The town was first built in the 1950's to lure South Koreans to defect and move across the border. From visual observations from the South, it has been uninhabited with windowless, incomplete buildings since its construction.

Dora Observatory is so named after Dorasan the mountain on which it sits. The nearest train station has a fully completed train line that runs to Pyongyang. Though the North cooperated in its completion, it was never used. It is hoped that when re-unification is reached, the train line will be used to connect the two Koreas.

Freedom Bridge

The Freedom Bridge connects North and South Korea, though a massive barricade blocks entry to the connecting point over the river. If the two sides are ever connected, this bridge could be used to enter and exit North Korea.

Step 2. Select a tour

Once you've decided on your must-see highlights (as listed above), you can select a tour.

There are traditional tour companies to choose from, which are listed at the end of this article along with prices and contact information, but it's much easier to book tours online with Klook , GetYourGuide  and Viator . You pay in advance and get fast confirmation, so all you need to do is bring your voucher to the tour. There are reviews, photos, and videos that make choosing the right tour simple. The traditional companies require back and forth e-mail or phone communication when booking direct, so Klook , GetYourGuide  and  Viator are convenient ways to avoid all that hassle.

One of the most popular tours is this day tour on Klook , with more than 50,000 bookings. This is the tour most of our readers have chosen, and is the tour we would select today. Our trip was now several years ago, and at the time we took the Special Panmunjom Tour by Panmunjeom Travel Center  which does not visit the tunnels but goes to Odu Observatory and the JSA. This tour offered the chance to speak with a North Korean refugee (defector). This allowed us to learn about how people escape the North, how they adapt to life afterwards, and what knowledge they have of the outside world living in North Korea.

Get $10 USD off your first Klook purchase with coupon code THRIFTY10 (minimum spend $120 USD, new users only)

Here are some of the top-rated tours that can be booked online:

South Korea Demilitarized Zone Half-Day Tour (Bestseller)

From Seoul: Half-Day Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Tour

DMZ Past and Present: Korean Demilitarized Zone Tour from Seoul

Step 3. take ( lots of ) photos of north korea.

Much of the road towards the JSA border runs parallel to the Han River, which separates the two countries. It's nothing short of unique to be sitting in a bus with views of North Korea passing by out your window.

The binoculars at the Dora and Odu observatory provide ultra zoomed views of North Korea. One can even see North Korean civilians walking around on the other side, as we did during our visit at Odu . At Dora Observatory, North Korea's fake town, Kijong-dong, is viewed.

Step 4. Cross the border into North Korea

On a tension-free day at the JSA, one can legally take a step into North Korea. But how and why ?

The blue buildings pictured below are UN Command neutral zones. Midway, the inside of these blue buildings cross the North/South Korea border. Inside the building on the right (UNCMAC) is where meetings between the two countries are housed.

If you want photo evidence that you physically stood in North Korea, this can be done . You can pose with a South Korean soldier within  North Korea at the back of the UNCMAC room. Be warned though (and you will be), if you cross through the door behind you, no one is responsible for your safety as you'll be alone and in North Korea.

Important Points About DMZ Tours

• Many tours require reservation 2-5 days in advance , so check ahead.
• If visiting the JSA, you must sign a waiver agreeing that no one is responsible for accident, injury, or even death . Take comfort in the fact that these tours are done every day and you are accompanied by military escorts at the border!
• You must bring your passport for most tours , and it is checked by army personnel on arrival at the JSA.
• You must adhere to the specified dress code (e.g. no ripped jeans, sandals, or unkempt hair). These rules are strictly enforced as North Korean soldiers take photos and produce false propaganda that other countries are too poor to afford proper clothing.
• Tours can end unexpectedly at any time if tensions rise at the border . That means you are not be guaranteed to step into the UNCMAC at the JSA, nor is it certain you'll get a photo across the border.

In Summary…

Partaking in the DMZ tour allows yourself to gain much more depth on a humanitarian crisis that the world does not know enough about. If you have the chance to do this trip, I'd highly recommend it.

Tour Companies & Pricing

Alternatively, you can contact one of the tour companies below directly and book with them.

Panmunjeom Travel Center Website : www.panmunjomtour.com Telephone : +82-2-771-5593 (Korean, English, Japanese) Price : 80,000-77,000 won (~$60-$77 USD). All tours include lunch. Note : Tours offered in Korean, English, and Japanese. This is the only company that allows you to meet a North Korean defector/refugee, ask them questions, and better understand the human rights issues of North Korea.

VIP Travel Website: http://www.vviptravel.com/eng/ Telephone: 02-739-3501 ext. 4 Price: 55,000-135,000 won ($48 – $120 USD). Most tours include lunch. Notes: Tours offered in English, Japanese, Chinese. None of the tours include any forced shopping stops.

Koridoor Website :  www.koridoor.co.kr Telephone : 02-6383-2570 ext. 2 Price : 43-89,000 won (~$41-$80 USD). Most tours include lunch. Notes : Tours offered in English.

JSA Tour Website : www.jsatour.com Telephone : +82-2-2266-3350 Price : 85,000-120,000 won (~$85-$120 USD). All tours include lunch. Notes : Tours offered in Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese.

DMZ Spy Tour Website : www.dmzspytour.com Telephone : +82-10-3950-8350 Price: 88,000-114,000 won (~$88-$114 USD). Tours include lunch. Notes : Tours offered in Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese.

International Culture Service Club Website : www.tourdmz.com Telephone : +82-2-755-0073 Price : 65,000-85,000 won (~$65-$85 USD). All tours include lunch. Notes : Tours offered in Korean, English and Japanese. This is the only company that does Saturday tours.

Seoul City Tour Website : www.seoulcitytour.net Telephone : +82-2-774-3345 Price: 40,000-125,000 won (~$40-$125 USD). Only some tours include lunch. Notes : Tours are offered in Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese.

KTB Tour Website : www.go2korea.co.kr Telephone : +82-2-778-0150 Price : 65,000-130,000 won (~$65-$130 USD). All tours include lunch. Notes : Tours offered in Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese.

DMZ & JSA Tour (Professional Guide Service / Celebrity's choice Agency) Website : www.cosmojin.com Telephone : +82-2-318-0345 (Korean, English, Japanese), +82-2-318-0425 (Chinese) Price : 46,000 won (~$46 USD) for half-day tour, 87,000 won (~$87 USD) for full day tour. Lunch included on full day tour. Notes : Tours offered in Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese.

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You guys are so brave! This makes me a bit nervous and I’m not sure I would be able to do it!

The link to the GetYourGuide tour you provided doesn’t work. Do you have an updated link by any chance? Thank you!

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Disclosures Many of the listings that appear on this website are from companies which we receive compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). The site does not review or include all companies or all available products. Thrifty Nomads has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Thrifty Nomads and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

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Pyongyang is North Korea’s capital and largest city. An ideological stronghold of imposing architecture and grand monuments, Pyongyang is the beating heart of politics, economy, culture, and tourism in North Korea.

The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is a buffer zone separating the Korean Peninsula, acting as the de-facto border between North Korea and South Korea.

Mt. Myohyang

Mt. Myohyang is one of North Korea’s most beautiful nature reserves, weaved with rewarding hikes and dotted with ancient relics.

Kaesong, the ancient capital of the Koryo dynasty, is abundant with well-preserved UNESCO sites and cultural treasures. Situated near the South Korean border, Kaesong has played a crucial role in inter-Korean relations.

Wonsan is a charming seaside town on North Korea’s east coast famous for its immaculate yellow-sand beaches and fresh seafood.

Nampo is an industrial port city and key trade gateway to Pyongyang located at the estuary of the Taedong River on the west coast.

Pyongsong is a satellite city of Pyongyang and a developing hub of science and technology often referred to as the ‘Silicon Valley’ of North Korea.

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One of the best customer experiences of my life, superb, safe and easy.

Coen Scott from Australia

To put it simply, my experience with Uri Tours was the best money I’ve ever spent on recreation. The larger part of every day was spent seeing new and unique locations, my personal favorite was the ‘Palace of the Sun’. (I mean, how many people outside of the DPRK can say they’ve seen Kim Jong Il’s mummy.. right!?) The hotel where we stayed was great! Friendly staff, clean facilities, good food and it also featured a multitude of shops and services, including but not limited to; a tailor, a bookstore, an art shop, a pool, a bar, a bowling alley and a masseuse!

Conner Brenner

My trip to North Korea was one of the most fascinating experiences of my life. I was fortunate enough to visit the country with my grandfather who was 78 at the time. Due to his age and his physical disabilities, there were a lot of potential issues that needed to be discussed prior to the trip taking place. The team at Uri Tours were incredibly helpful and courteous during this process. Every concern was addressed, and nearly every email I sent the company was responded to on the same day. I felt like I was being treated with the utmost professionalism.

Tara Mina Bayati

The trip was amazing and far exceeded my greatest expectations. I am sure all of the local guides are great, but I truly cannot imagine anyone better than the ones assigned to us. They could not have been more phenomenal and I felt genuinely sad saying goodbye to them at the airport. This was truly an experience of a lifetime which was made possible by Uri Tours. I would highly recommend them to anyone interested in visiting the DPRK!

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THE URI STORY

A pioneering Korean-American family set out to explore the other side of their roots. What they found were people similar to them with a unique culture, rich history and distinct way of living. We have been offering safe and premium tours and travel to North Korea for over 15 years for international travelers.

• Group tours 2016
• Group tours 2017
• Group tours 2024
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• How to get to the DPRK?
• DPRK tourist guide
• Hotels in the DPRK
• Masik Ski Resort
• Historical sites
• Revolutionary spots
• Main cities
• Pyongyang (capital)
• Chongjin (city of iron)
• Hamhung (2nd biggest)
• Kaesong (ancient capital)
• Wonsan (main port)
• Celebrated mountains
• Mt.Kumgang (Diamond)
• Mt.Myohyang
• Pyongyang Marathon 2024
• Rason Free Economic Zone
• Masik Pass Ski Resort
• Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)
• FORMALITIES
• Book / cancel your tour
• Visa support
• RAIL AND FERRY TOURS
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• OTHER COUNTRIES
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North Korea - unforgettable journey!

You couldn't probably ever imagine going as a tourist to a country that is seldom mentioned in connection with tourism.... However, it is possible to say, without exaggeration, that North Korea (the Democratic People's Republic of Korea or the DPRK) is the most exotic and out-of-the-way tourist destination on the market. Travel to North Korea with Korea Konsult and open a whole new world for you!

UPCOMING GROUP TOURS

Upcoming celebrations in the dprk, discover north korea yourself.

Every year we run almost 40 group tours as well as a number of individual tours. Our group tours is the most convenient, economical and fun way to travel in North Korea. We offer different types of tours dedicated to particular events celebrated in North Korea, or visiting specific areas such as Rason Free Economic Zone and hardly accessible and beautiful Mt.Paektu.

Meet North Koreans

Meet locals yourself and learn from the first hands what the life is like in the DPRK. Visit schools , kindergartens , villages and farms, mixed up with Koreans in various festivities and performances

Experience Culture and Nature

Witness revolutionary art, architecture , as well as see ancient temples , traditional paintings and monuments. The DPRK features unspoiled nature famous for its pure rich colours and quiet beauty

Enjoy Various Activities

Participate in many events such as annual Pyongyang Marathon , Mass Dance , Film Festival , hiking in Mt Paektu, ski at the world class Masik Pass Ski resort , explore of Special Economic Zone Rason , and more

WHY TRAVEL WITH KOREA KONSULT?

Korea Konsult is the largest company in Europe specializing in tours to North Korea. Every year 30+ different nationalities from all over the world travel with us to this mysterious and fascinating country. We know the country inside out. Our prices are competitive. Our service is professional, quick and efficient. We are entirely devoted to our goal in providing you the best travel experience possible. In addition to this, we can speak your own language - English, French, German, Swedish or Russian. We help you to organize and to arrange the perfect tour just for you. Thank you for trusting us. We look forward to hearing from you soon .

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• Passports, travel and living abroad
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• Foreign travel advice

North Korea

Warnings and insurance.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice .

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to North Korea

Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice. Consular support is also severely limited where FCDO advises against travel.

North Korea’s borders are currently closed, but few British people visit when they are open. Those that do are usually part of an organised tour. If you decide to visit North Korea, follow the advice of your tour group and the local authorities. Failure to do so could put your personal safety at risk.

The North Korean authorities have reportedly detained some foreign nationals and denied them access to consular support.

While daily life in the capital city Pyongyang may appear calm, the security situation can change quickly with no advance warning about possible actions by the authorities. This poses significant risks to British visitors and residents.

Follow the political and security situation very closely and stay in touch with your host organisation or tour operator.

Current incidents and risks

Covid-19 lockdown.

No entry into North Korea is permitted while COVID-19 border restrictions remain in place. The North Korean government continues to temporarily suspend all passenger routes into and out of North Korea. The British Embassy in Pyongyang is temporarily closed due to these restrictions. This means you cannot get consular support from within North Korea.

You cannot enter or leave North Korea through the border with South Korea without special permission.

Nuclear testing

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. Testing of ballistic missiles has taken place frequently since 2019.

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide as well as support for British nationals abroad which includes:

• advice on preparing for travel abroad and reducing risks
• information for women, LGBT+ and disabled travellers

Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram . You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance . Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

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North Korea Borders Opening Updates (March 2024)

By Koryo Tours

Updates on North Korea border openings. After borders tightly shut for the past 4 years, North Korea's borders look finally set to open once again.

North Korea Borders Opening Updates Last Updated: March 2024

Updated: 24th March 2024

As the leaders in North Korean travel operating in North Korea for over 30 years, we aim to keep you as updated as possible when it comes to North Korean tourism.

This page is kept constantly updated when there are new updates regarding the North Korean border and North Korean border openings.

For our plan for North Korean tours (depending on reopening) in 2024, click here.

Feel free to skip to the relevant area below. You can also find an FAQ section at the bottom. 

North Korean Border Updates Table of Contents

North Korea Border Opening Updates (Timeline) North Korean Borders Opening Sign North Korean Borders Opening FAQs

North Korea Border Opening UPDATES

Timescale of north korean border opening updates. , sunday 10th march (2024)  .

A couple more groups of Russian visitors have been confirmed to go to North Korea. Still no opening to normal tourism - but maybe a positive sign for everyone else?

NKNews reports on the latest developments .

Friday 9th February   (2024)

The first group of 'tourists' arrived in Pyongyang after 4+ years of the borders being closed to visitors.

This is a special Russian group going on a ski trip. Not quite a normal tourist trip due to links between military cooperation between the two states making this trip possible. Thus, ooutside of anything like normal tourism process.

Al Jazeera reports here .

Thursday 11th January  (2024)

It is confirmed from within Pyongyang that a group of Russian tourists will be the first to enter the country for more than 4 years in February. This is on a tour that just includes a day in Pyongyang and then some skiing at Masik-Ryong.

This is a special trip arranged via an agreement between the administration of the Russian Far Eastern province of Primorskiy Krai and the DPRK government. It may signal an opening in due course to other tourists, or may not. we wait and see!

NKNews reports on this story here .

Tuesday, 26th September (2023)

China's news outlet CCTV made an announcement that foreigners would be let into North Korea on 25th September.

The announcement was made saying that it had been announced by North Korea. However, there has not been any confirmation from North Korea yet.

Nevertheless, if the rumours are true, then tourism is still a long way off. The first foreigners to go into North Korea will be those with the highest priority.

This includes people like diplomats initially, followed by humanitarian aid workers etc. 

You can find an updated report here . 

Tuesday, August 22nd (2023)

First Air Koryo flight from Pyongyang to Beijing since the shutdown takes place .

Reopening a crucial route which has been out of use since January 2020. Not a flight for tourists, but for North Koreans to finally return home after years stuck overseas. A positive sign for the resumption of this route going forward.

Thursday, 10th August (2023)

Koryo Tours received the news on the 10th of August that North Korea (the DPRK) is expected to officially open its border again very soon.

This is the first time since it closed back in January 2020 to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

North Korean Borders Opening Signs

Taekwondo Team

A North Korean Taekwondo team was sent from Pyongyang to Kazakhstan to take part in the Taekwondo World Championships.

They were featured in the opening ceremony and made their way to Kazakhstan by taking a train from the DPRK into China, staying in Beijing, and then going on to Kazakhstan. 

This is the  first sports delegation sent out of the DPRK  since 2019 and they would not be sent if they were not able to return afterwards.

Vladivostok to Pyongyang Flights

As reported by NKNews  there will be flights from Vladivostok to Pyongyang happening very soon.

So far only a couple of flights are confirmed and it seems likely that these are specifically for returning North Koreans.

This route was never the most viable for tourists and, given events that have been happening involving Russia since the last time these flights took place, they are perhaps even less useful for Western tourists now, but it is a sign that DPRK airspace is opening to flights again.

North Korean Students in Dandong

North Korean students in China continue to gather in Dandong awaiting trains to return them to the DPRK.

Many of these students finished their courses years ago but have been unable to return to their homes since then. They number in the hundreds at least and will likely be the first to go back when this opening for DPRK citizens takes place.

North Korean Border Opening FAQs 

Have the north korean borders opened.

Short answer, no. Long answer, kind of starting to. But they are currently not open to pre-COVID levels. 

Has North Korean Tourism Resumed?

No, not fully to all nationalities and to pre-COVID levels. 

As the leading North Korean travel company, we will be updating people as soon as we have news on North Korea opening to tourism. 

Make sure to follow us on our social media channels where we will be updating people as soon as we have confirmation. 

Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

When Will the North Korean Borders Open?

No official date has been given.

Nevertheless, the consensus from multiple sources (all of them North Korean) is that it will be “soon”.

Who Are the North Korean Borders Open to?

Initially, the opening of the North Korean border is for North Korean citizens only.

While the closure of North Korea has affected companies like ours, and anyone wanting to visit and engage with the country, it has been far more disruptive and difficult for the many thousands of North Koreans trapped outside of their home country for more than three and a half years now.

Anyone who was not in the DPRK when the borders closed has not been able to return. So, workers, students, businesspeople, diplomats, and all kinds of folks who were in China and elsewhere are still outside of the country and are no doubt keen to see their own families again. This is a chance for them to finally do so.

When Will the Borders Open for Tourists?

The opening of the North Korean border is currently for North Koreans, but we expect this to be expanded soon afterwards. Initially, this will likely be for important incoming figures such as diplomats, and NGO staff, etc. Eventually, tourists will follow.

However, when this will be we do not know.

Are North Korea International Flights Running?

Flights between Pyongyang and China as well as Pyongyang and Russia have now resumed.

Is the North Korea Train Running? (China, Dandong - Pyongyang)

The train from Dandong to Pyongyang will be operating normally soon. 

You have North Korean Tours on Your Website. Does this mean we can book them? 

No. We have kept all our North Korean tours on our website since 2020. This is basically to give people a place to go to and an idea of how North Korea tourism works. 

However, we make it very clear on our North Korean tour page that these tours are currently not confirmed. 

Koryo Tours North Korea Tours

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Here we will outline what would be a good option for a North Korea private tour of just three nights. Have a look below for what we would suggest for anyone looking to taste as much as possible on a quick trip – drop us a line if you would like us to put together a bespoke itinerary for you!

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North Korea Revealed Shocking Truth About Tourist Traps

S ince February, North Korea has welcomed tourists, starting with Russian nationals. This comes as a surprise as North Korea has reopened tourism post-COVID-19. Citizens of all countries, excluding the U.S. and South Korea, can visit North Korea. However, strict regulations apply to tourists in North Korea. Even a slight deviation from these regulations could lead to detention, imprisonment, or even the death penalty.

One of the dangerous behaviors in North Korea is expressing one’s political views. Anyone raising objections to the regime or system can be immediately sent to a forced labor camp for ideological education or even publicly executed. This applies to tourists visiting North Korea as well.

You can be detained or arrested in North Korea for criticizing the North Korean system. As the number of foreigners arrested in North Korea increases, governments around the world have issued travel guidelines for North Korea for the safety of their citizens. These guidelines emphasize that you should not criticize North Korea’s supreme leaders. They warned to stay clear of insulting North Korean leaders like Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un, as severe punishment follows.

The most important thing is to be careful not to insult the dignity of North Korean leaders with words or actions. You should not damage publications such as books, magazines, newspapers, or banknotes that contain their images.

When taking pictures of places where portraits or photos of the Kim family are hung, you must ensure that the images are not cut off. The principle is to include everyone in the photo.

If you behave disrespectfully in front of a statue, you could end up in jail. It would be best not to damage propaganda posters or slogans on buildings or streets. Drinking is also prohibited on the memorial days of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. In North Korea, anyone drinking or laughing these days can be punished for not showing respect and courtesy to the supreme leaders.

North Korea’s constitution and laws explicitly state that freedom of religion is guaranteed. However, in reality, they suppress individual religious beliefs. According to testimonies of defectors, possessing religious texts itself is illegal, and if caught, you could be punished or even executed. Also, religious proselytizing activities are considered a threat to regime stability and anti-republic hostile acts.

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There have been foreigners who were punished for religious activities in North Korea. In 2014, American Jeffrey Fowle was arrested on suspicion of leaving a Bible in a nightclub while traveling in Chongjin, Hamgyong Province. He was released after five months of detention.

During a trip to North Korea, tourists cannot travel freely. Tourists must travel in groups to approved destinations with a guide. You can’t even take pictures at will. You can only take photos at designated places with the guide’s permission. Moreover, it is completely forbidden to photograph soldiers, workers, or construction sites.

Read more: Insider's Guide: What to Know Before Traveling to Hawaii

You are also not allowed to take pictures showing the impoverished state of North Korea, like empty store shelves. If you take photos without permission for any reason, you could be fined or arrested according to North Korean law.

During a trip to North Korea, customs thoroughly inspect USB flash drives, laptops, computers, and other devices. Suppose these electronic devices contain content criticizing the North Korean regime or its leaders. In that case, it is considered a criminal act punishable by long-term re-education through labor and heavy fines.

Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American, was sentenced to 15 years of re-education through labor after unintentionally bringing a computer hard drive into North Korea and getting caught. There’s also a risk of confiscation if the contents are deemed obscene.

You should not carry books or documents written in Korean, particularly during a trip to North Korea. Additionally, you must be careful when bringing items like mobile phones.

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By Jack Kim SEOUL (Reuters) – Major North Korean hacking groups have mounted “all-out” cyber attacks against South Korean defence companies for more than a year, breaching the firms’ internal networks and stealing technical data, South Korea’s police said on Tuesday.

Hacking teams linked to North Korea’s intelligence apparatus and known as Lazarus, Kimsuky and Andariel planted malicious codes in data systems of the defence companies either directly or through contractors working with them, the police said.

The police, working with a team of national spy agency and private sector experts, traced the hacks to the groups, identifying them by the source IP addresses, the re-routing architecture of the signals and the signatures of the malwares used, it said.

In a case that began in November 2022, the hackers planted a code in the company’s public network which then infected its intranet when the security program protecting the internal system was temporarily disengaged for a network test, it said.

The hackers also took advantage of the simple security lapse by employees at subcontractors who used the same passcodes for their private and official email accounts, breaching defence company networks and extracting confidential technical data.

The police did not name the companies that have been hacked or the nature of the data breached.

South Korea has emerged as a major global defence exporter, with contracts signed in recent years to sell mechanised howitzers, tanks and fighter jets valued at billions of dollars.

North Korean hacking groups have infiltrated the systems of South Korean financial institutions and news outlets, foreign defence companies, and, in a major security breach in 2014, into South Korea’s nuclear power operator.

North Korean hackers are believed to be behind major cryptocurrency thefts, with the stolen funds being channelled to its weapons programmes.

North Korea denies involvement in hacking operations or crypto heists.

(Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)

Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibilty for its content.

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Rahul gandhi breached decorum of india bloc by criticising pinarayi — cpi(m) candidate kk shailaja, climate change doesn’t just affect poor people, farmers. cities and banks aren’t safe either, deepening insecurity has led the world into a mindless arms race. don’t forget past wars.

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