North Korea Travel Overview

Korea, Democratic People’s Republic

At a glance

Capital: Pyongyang (See more on ITYPEMBA.COM)

Official language: Korean

Currency: won

Continent: Central Asia

Between Confucius and Marx

The best time to travel to North Korea is between August and October

Location

According to Countryaah, North Korea is a country in Southeast Asia that borders Russia, China and of course South Korea. However, according to the relevant opinion, the country is closed to travelers from outside, travel in North Korea is possible.

Travel North Korea

In no other country are the circumstances and precautions regarding travelers similar to those in North Korea. In principle, they have to announce their travel route and announce changes in advance. When you arrive, you will be provided with two tour guides who will not leave you. Do not try to mess with them, but there is also no reason to pretend to be a communist.

Destinations North Korea

There are few traditional buildings in North Korea as they were destroyed by the communist regime. However, you can visit all the prestige objects of communism. And take photos of them under certain circumstances, as long as no military can be seen on them and they only take photos of the leaders of the country as a whole. Taking photos during the bus ride is not permitted. If they do, you can guide serious problem get. In general, your tour guide will be the first to act if you do not behave according to the conditions in the country.

Armistice Line

A popular destination for travelers is Panmunjom within the demilitarized zone. You can visit the barrack where the armistice line was decided. Photographing soldiers is not a problem here, but it is expressly forbidden within the entire area of ​​the demilitarized zone. Just follow the instructions of the tour guide and the officer accompanying you in order not to cause a military incident – at least this is the argument for the somewhat neurotic behavior.

Important facts

Alternative name: North korea

Capital: Pyongyang

Official language: Korean

Currency

Currency (sub-unit)

won

ISO 4217 code

KPW / 408

Geography

Continent: Asia

Region: Central

Geo coordinates: N 40 ° 20 ‘23.5 ” E 127 ° 30’ 36.3″

Highest mountain: Paektu-san (2,744 m)

Total area: 120,540 km²

Mainland: 120,410 km²

National border: 1,673 km

Coastline: 2,495 km

Politics

Dependency: Japan until 1945

UN member since: 1991

Form of government: People’s Republic

Economy

Export goods: Copper, cobalt, coffee

GDP: $ 20,334,000,000

GDP purchasing power parity: $ 43,000,000,000

Export: $ 1,420,000,000

Import: $ 3,404,000,000

Oil consumption: 27,000 million m³

Cultivation area: 24.2%

Bovine: 690,000 pieces

Pigs: 3,727,000 pieces

Fishing: 253,000 t

Demographic data

Residents: 23.113.100

Residents in cities: 14,024,100

Average age: 32 years

0-14 years: 23.8%

15-64 years: 68%

> 65 years: 8.2%

Population growth: 0.84%

Birth rate: 15.54 / 1,000 residents

Death rate: 7.13 / 1,000 residents

Ratio men / women: 0.94

Fertility: 2.1 Children / woman

Infant mortality: 23.29 ‰

Life expectancy men: 68.92 years

Life expectancy women: 74.51 years

Country codes

ISO 3166 Alpha 2: KP

ISO 3166 Alpha 3: PRK

ISO 3166 numeric: 408

Top Level Domain: kp

IOC country code: PRK

UN / LOCODE: KP

Source: Abbreviationfinder

Communication

Telephone connections: 1,350,000

Radios: 3,360,000

TV: 3,280,000

Transportation

Railway lines: 5,214 km

Paved roads: 6,800 km

Cars: 410,000

Merchant fleet (ships over 1,000 GRT): 232

Pipelines: 172

Health

Number of doctors: 70,300

Daily food intake: 2.150 kcal / resident

Education

Illiteracy: 1 %

History

Foundation: 2333 BC Chr.

Last sovereign since: -1948 BC Chr.

Religion

Main religious group: Agnostic

Military

Armed forces (troop strength): 1,082,000

Main battle tank: 3,500

Battleships: 8th

Submarines: 90

Warplanes: 590

Helicopter: 290

Nuclear warheads: 3

Defense Spending: $ 6,449,000,000

GETTING THERE

Arriving by plane

The national airline is Air Koryo (JS).

China Southern Airlines (CZ) flies several times a week from Europe to Beijing (China), from there there are flights to Pyonyang with Air Koryo. Air Koryo also has regular flights to Vladivostok (Russian Federation).

Flight times

Berlin – Pyongyang: 12 hours; Frankfurt – Pyongyang: 15 hours

Departure fee

No.

Arrival by car

There are road links from Dandong, Luta, Liaoyang, Jilin and Changchun (all in China) and Vladivostok (Russian Federation); However, tourists are only allowed to enter by plane or train.

Arriving by train

There are rail connections between Pyongyang and Beijing (China) (travel time: approx. 24 hours) and to Moscow in the Russian Federation (travel time: 6 1/2 days). Detailed information is available on site.

There are currently no regular train connections to the Republic of Korea. However, in May 2007, rail traffic was resumed on a trial basis after 56 years.

Arrival by ship

The main ports are Chongjin, Haeju, Hungnam, Kimchaek, Kosong, Najin, Sinuiju, Sonbong, Songnim, Unsang, Wonsan, Nampo and Pyongyang. The ship connection between Wonsan and Niigata (Japan) may only be used by Japanese and North Koreans.

ON THE GO

Traveling by plane

Domestic air traffic from Chongjin, Hamhung, Kaesong, Kanggye, Kiliju, Pyongyang, Sinuiju and Wonsan; however, foreign tourists are not allowed to use domestic flights.

On the way by car / bus

There is right-hand traffic. The larger roads are good, many have two lanes (but hardly any signs). There are police checkpoints on all the streets that lead out of the capital, where you have to identify yourself.
There are no bus connections between cities.

Documentation: The international driver’s license is not recognized, driving in the country requires taking a local driving test to obtain a local driving license.

Traveling in the city

There is a subway (Internet: www.pyongyang-metro.com) and trolley buses in Pyongyang.

On the go by train

Regular but time-consuming connections from Pyongyang to Sinuiju, Haeju and Chongjin. Timetables are not available in printed form and it is recommended that you purchase tickets through a travel agent.