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.