North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)

Regional threats

Armed conflict during the 1950-53 Korean War ended with the signing of the armistice agreement, but South Korea and North Korea remain technically at war and relations are tense. A demilitarised zone (DMZ) separates the Korean Peninsula roughly in half between the North (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) and the South (Republic of Korea).

Low-level military clashes have occurred between South Korea and North Korea, including across the DMZ and along the Northern Limit Line in the sea to the west of the Korean Peninsula.

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

North Korea regularly takes provocative actions, including conducting ballistic missile launches, sending 'trash balloons', and, sometimes, undertaking nuclear weapons tests or other threatening or belligerent behaviours. These activities increase tension in the region and can occur with little warning.

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

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

In the event of such threats:

• monitor developments
• take official warnings seriously
• leave when it's safe to do so.

Access to information

North Korea is a closed society.

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

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

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

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

• take the necessary precautions to ensure your safety, develop a communications plan with your friends and family and share details about your planned travel
• pay close attention to your personal security
• monitor state broadcasts and other local sources for signs of rising tension, civil unrest or internal instability
• if possible, monitor international media for security risks
• you should notify the Australian Embassy in Seoul of your travel plans
• understand that you could be arbitrarily detained. Make sure you have an up-to-date will and enduring power of attorney. Designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries.

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

Keep your passport and belongings close, particularly:

• at Pyongyang airport
• in public markets

Cyber Security

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

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

More information:

• Cyber security when travelling overseas

Kidnapping

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

More information:

• Kidnapping

Terrorism is a threat world-wide. Terrorist attacks could occur anywhere and at any time. Be alert to possible threats, especially in public places. Terrorists may target tourist areas or other places frequented by foreigners where large crowds may gather.

More information:

• Terrorist threats

North Korea experiences natural disasters and severe weather, including:

• flooding and landslides
• earthquakes
• tsunamis
• typhoons

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

If a natural disaster occurs:

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

Check with a tour operator or guide before travelling to affected areas.

Register with the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System to receive alerts on major disasters.

Typhoons and severe weather

The monsoon season is usually from June to August.

Excessive rainfall during summer can cause severe flooding and landslides and damage to housing and infrastructure. Flash flooding can occur.

The typhoon season is usually from August to September. 

If a typhoon is approaching, stay inside.  The direction and strength of typhoons can change with little warning.

If a typhoon approaches:

• know your hotel evacuation plans
• identify your local shelter

If you stay:

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

Contact your tour operator or guide for updates.

More information:

• World Meteorological Organisation Severe Weather Information Centre

Earthquakes and tsunamis

Earthquakes can occur on the Korean Peninsula, although less frequently than in surrounding regions such as Japan and China.

Tsunamis are a risk. Large earthquakes in surrounding regions can cause destructive tsunamis that may affect the Korean Peninsula. If you're in a coastal region after a major earthquake, move to higher ground immediately.

If there's an earthquake or tsunami:

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

Don't wait for official warnings, such as alarms or sirens. Once on high ground, follow the instructions from your guide.

Get comprehensive travel insurance before you leave. 

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

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

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

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

Confirm:

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

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

See your doctor or travel clinic to:

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

Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.

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

More information:

• General health advice
• Healthy holiday tips (Healthdirect Australia)

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

Medications can be very hard to get in North Korea.

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

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

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

More information:

• Medication

Insect-borne illnesses

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

Japanese encephalitis is also a risk.

To protect yourself from disease:

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

More information:

• Infectious diseases

Other health risks

• Waterborne, foodborne and other infectious diseases occur, including:
• tuberculosis
• typhoid
• hepatitis
• measles
• cholera
• rabies

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

Get advice on preventative medicine for intestinal worms.

Hand, foot and mouth disease

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

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

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

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

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

To protect yourself from illness:

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

Yellow dust

Strong winds from Mongolia and China carry yellow dust and other pollutants to the Korean Peninsula, particularly from March to May. 

The dust can:

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

The standard of medical facilities is basic, and hygiene is poor, including in Pyongyang.

Avoid surgery unless you need it to leave North Korea.

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

• lack heating and medical supplies
• have power outages and other difficulties

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

The cost of medical treatment is high.

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

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

Medical evacuation

North Korean authorities have severely restricted flights in and out of North Korea, making medical evacuation difficult.          

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

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

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

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

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

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

Travelling as part of a tour or with a guide offers no special protection from North Korean laws. Follow all instructions from your tour operator and the local authorities. Failure to do so could put your safety at risk. 

Arbitrary arrest and detention

Authorities have arrested and detained foreigners, including Australians.

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

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

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

Drugs

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

Parole is rare in drug-related cases.

More information:

• Carrying or using drugs

Other laws

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

Many seemingly innocent activities may be perceived as spying.

It's illegal to take photos of anything other than designated public tourist sites, including:

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

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

It's illegal to:

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

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

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

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

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

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

More information:

• Staying within the law and respecting customs

North Korea doesn't recognise dual nationality.

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

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

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

More information:

• Dual nationals

Same-sex relationships and homosexuality aren't explicitly criminalised, but same-sex relationships aren't legally recognised. There are reports of executions due to homosexuality. 

More information:

• LGBTQIA+ travellers

Visas

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

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

• detained
• arrested
• fined
• denied entry

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

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

Other visas

Business travellers generally need:

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

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

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

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

Border measures

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

More information:

• Travel advice for China

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

When entering North Korea, you need to declare all:

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

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

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

Quarantine

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

More information:

• Embassy or consulate of North Korea

Register on arrival

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

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

Validity

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

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

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

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

Lost or stolen passport

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

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

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

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

Passport with 'X' gender identifier

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

More information:

• LGBTQIA+ travellers

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

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

Changing currencies in North Korea is difficult.

ATMs aren't available.

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

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

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

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

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

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

An official guide must always accompany travellers. Follow all instructions from your guide.

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

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

• taxis
• hire vehicles
• guides
• tolls
• permits

Communications

Assume that authorities are monitoring all your phone conversations, including on your mobile, even if it wasn't confiscated when you arrived.

International phone lines may be disconnected without notice.

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

Internet access is severely restricted and may be monitored.

Communications are unreliable.

Direct telephone calls to or from South Korea aren't possible.

You may not be able to contact your family and friends easily. 

If, despite our advice, you travel to North Korea, discuss and agree on a communications plan with your family and friends before you depart.

Necessities

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

Energy and pharmaceutical shortages are common.

Road travel

Tour operators or sponsors usually provide road transportation.

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

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

Public transport

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

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

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

Sea travel

Many coastal areas are sensitive.

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

Air travel

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

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

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

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

More information:

• Air travel

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

Depending on what you need, contact your:

• family and friends – always notify family and friends of your planned travel to North Korea and share your location
• travel agent
• insurance provider
• employer
• airline

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

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

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

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

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

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

Australian Embassy, Seoul

19th floor, Kyobo Building

1, Jong-ro

Jongno-gu

Seoul 03154, Republic of Korea

Phone: +82 2 2003 0100

Fax: +82 2 2003 0196

Website: southkorea.embassy.gov.au

Facebook: Australia in the Republic of Korea

X: @AusAmbROK

Instagram: @AusEmbKor

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

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

Embassy of Sweden, Pyongyang, North Korea

Munsu-dong 3

Taehak Street, Taedonggang 

Pyongyang

Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Phone: +850 2 381 7910 

Email: Ambassaden.pyongyang@gov.se

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

24-hour Consular Emergency Centre

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

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