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Korea, North
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Customs and Culture
Customs and Culture
About the People
The establishment of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea’s official name) brought about radical changes in the nature of traditional Korean society. The Confucian concept of filial piety and loyalty to one’s lineage has been largely supplanted by an intense nationalism that is described as both fiercely proud and excessively paranoid. The interests of the state have taken priority over the interests of the family. One should be aware of the pervasive influence of the chuch’e concept on the North Korean psyche. It colors every aspect of life, from popular music to political speeches and everyday conversation. Chuch’e gives people a reason to sacrifice, and it is what has convinced the people that they are better off than other nations.
North and South Koreans often use extreme modesty when speaking about themselves. Reluctance to accept high honors is the mark of a true Korean gentleman. Compliments are graciously denied. Success depends greatly on social contacts. Friends expect to rely on each other for just about anything. Koreans are quick to make friends and friendships are highly valued. South Koreans are proud of their country’s accomplishments, including the contributions of traditional Korean culture and the nation’s modern economic success.
Cultural Attributes
One should be aware of the pervasive influence of self reliance on the Korean psyche. It impacts every aspect Korean culture, from politics to music. Reliance provides a reason for personal sacrifice, and it is what has convinced the people that they are better off than other nations.
North and South Koreans often use extreme modesty when speaking about themselves. Reluctance to accept high honors is the mark of a true Korean gentleman. Compliments are graciously denied. Success depends greatly on social contacts. Friends expect to rely on each other for just about anything. Koreans are quick to make friends and friendships are highly valued.
Monument to the People's Will
Greetings, Gestures & Visiting
Greetings and introductions tend to be formal. Handshakes are common among men, but a bow is still most common. A younger or lower-status person always bows until the other offers a handshake or returns the bow. When Korean men do shake hands, the right hand is extended, often supported at the wrist by the left hand to show deference. The head is slightly bowed. When women meet, they usually extend both hands and grasp each other’s hands. Children always bow to adults and wave or bow among themselves.
There are several phrases used in greeting another person, but the most common is "Anyong haseyo" (lAre you at peace?”), which is used to ask “How are you?” The Korean language has different levels of formality, so this and any other greeting will differ depending on the people involved. For example, "Anuong" is used with children, while" Anyong hashimnikka" is used for superiors. All mean the same thing, but the different endings indicate levels of respect. When greeting a superior, it is common to ask about health and parents. When greeting a subordinate, the questions are about the spouse and children.
It is not unusual to see men holding hands in public or walking down the street with an arm slung over a friend’s shoulder. This is an expression of friendship.
Touching between strangers or casual acquaintances, however, especially between opposite sexes, is considered inappropriate.
In most situations, good posture is maintained to show respect for the host or speaker. To sit in a relaxed manner is considered an insult. Care is taken not to expose the soles of the feet to another person while sitting. Gifts are given and received with both hands. Hands are generally not used much in conversation. Hats are removed in buildings, as well as in the presence of an elder or superior. One never looks a superior directly in the eye.
Koreans do not commonly visit one another unannounced, and arranged social visits are infrequent. Generally, people visit relatives for the Lunar New Year or Parents’ Day, but not so often otherwise. Unless special business calls for it, a superior never visits a subordinate. Those who are invited are nearly always offered light refreshments, consisting of a drink, fruit, crackers, cookies, or coffee. It is considered polite and a sign of respect for guests to take a gift to the hosts. The value of the gift is far less important than the gesture of giving it. In most cases, a gift will be fruit, a beverage, or something from one’s home region.
Shoes and hats are removed indoors. In some cases, slippers are provided. Otherwise, people wear only socks in the home. Observing etiquette involves paying particular attention to the host and making sure his feelings are respected. Showing respect for the family and state are of utmost importance for most visits. Koreans are very generous hosts. They view the care of a guest as basic good manners, so visitors are given the best the household has to offer. If there are many guests, then age or status are used to determine who gets the best seat, the best cut of meat and the largest drink
For special occasions or holidays traditional clothing is often worn. Women frequently wear the "hanbok", a two-piece, long colorful dress . Men wear pants with a loose robe or jacket. Clothing often depends on the event. In public, conservative dress is important. Bare feet are inappropriate.
Diet
Korean food is generally spicy. Kimch’i (a spicy pickled cabbage) and rice are the mainstays of the diet around which most other dishes revolve. Meals usually consist of a number of spicy vegetables, soup, fish, and kimch’i. Because of the lower economic level of North Korea, traditional Korean delicacies such as pulkogi (marinated beef) and kalbi (marinated short ribs) are not as common as in South Korea. A favorite food in North Korea is naengmyon, a cold noodle dish. The consumption of soybeans and corn is high, as is that of millet and wheat.
Families rarely have time to eat daily meals together. Fathers often leave early in the morning and return late at night. They commonly eat their meals at workplace cafeterias. Koreans consider eating while walking on the street ill-mannered and offensive, something only a child is allowed to indulge in. Except during lengthy dinner parties, conversation during meals is quite limited. Eating with the fingers is considered impolite, but slurping soup and noodles is accepted; in fact, it is a practical way to eat hot food at the rapid pace Koreans are used to. Spoons for soup and chopsticks for everything else are the most common utensils.
Kimch’i (pickled cabbage) and rice are the mainstays of the diet around which most other dishes revolve. Meals usually consist of a number of spicy vegetables, soup, fish, and kimch’i. Because of the lower economic level of North Korea, traditional Korean delicacies such as "pulkogi" (beef) and "kalbi" (short ribs) are not as common as in South Korea. A favorite food in North Korea is "naengmyon", a cold noodle dish. The consumption of soybeans and corn is high, as is millet and wheat.
Family
The family remains an important part of Korean life. The population has been constantly exhorted by the government to “love your family, love your state,” but obligations have been continually extended outward to embrace the larger society. Traditional Korean family devotion has been redirected away from the extended family. Consumerism tends to be discouraged in favor of austerity in the North. However, workers can earn a variety of supplies, benefits, and gifts from either their employers or the government. Both parents usually work and their children go to day care.
Dating Customs
The government has established minimum marriage ages (27 for men, 25 for women) to allow for the completion of military service and other obligations.
Recreation
Koreans enjoy traditional sports like tae-kwon-do, a form of martial arts that originated in Korea 2000 years ago as an exercises in self defense and ssirum. Ssirum began as a method of self-defense over 1500 years ago. The rules of Ssirum are simple. A competitor tries to grasp his opponent's belt or satba, and throw him to the ground, but if the wrestler's body touches the ground anywhere above the knee, the other person wins.
Holidays
Founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)
9/9Independence
Hangul Day
10/9Other
Hangul Day - on this day in 1446, King Sejong the Great promulgated the Korean alphabet, hangul.
Christmas
12/25Christmas
Christmas day in North Korea is just like any other day. There is no Santa Claus, or Santa Haraboji, pronounced ‘Santa ha-ra-bo-jee’ in North Korea. Christmas Eve is celebrated by underground Christians only in their hearts. There are no Christmas gifts, no Christmas trees, no candy canes, and not one Christmas carol in North Korea. There are also no substitute festivities or any kind of holiday fanfare during the Christmas months. No one is allowed to put up a Christmas tree or sing a Christmas carol. There are no gifts exchanged and nowhere in North Korea will you see the picture of Santa Claus.
If the North Korean regime discovers that a person is a believer in Christianity, the Christian can be tortured, made to go through a labor camp or publicly executed to discourage others.
Dates of Interest
- Varies
A traditional harvest festival celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, involving family gatherings, feasts, and ancestral rites.
How do people greet each other in KoreaNorth?
Greetings and introductions are formal, with bowing being most common, though handshakes occur among men. The Korean language has different levels of formality, so greetings change depending on who is involved.
Do
- Have younger or lower-status people bow until the other offers a handshake or returns the bow
- When men shake hands, extend the right hand and support it at the wrist with the left hand to show deference, with the head slightly bowed
- When women meet, extend both hands and grasp each other's hands
- When greeting a superior, ask about their health and parents; with a subordinate, ask about spouse and children
Good to know
- The most common greeting is "Anyong haseyo" ("Are you at peace?"), meaning "How are you?"
- Use "Anyong" with children and "Anyong hashimnikka" for superiors — the different endings indicate levels of respect
- Children always bow to adults and wave or bow among themselves
What are the dining customs in KoreaNorth?
Korean food is generally spicy, built around kimch'i and rice, with a favorite dish being naengmyon, a cold noodle dish. Use spoons for soup and chopsticks for everything else.
Do
- Slurping soup and noodles is accepted and is a practical way to eat hot food quickly
- Use a spoon for soup and chopsticks for everything else
Don’t
- Don't eat with your fingers, as it is considered impolite
- Don't eat while walking on the street, as it is considered ill-mannered and offensive
Good to know
- Meals usually consist of spicy vegetables, soup, fish, and kimch'i
- Conversation during meals is quite limited, except during lengthy dinner parties
- Delicacies like pulkogi (marinated beef) and kalbi (short ribs) are less common than in the South due to lower economic conditions
- Families rarely eat daily meals together; fathers often eat at workplace cafeterias
What is the visiting and hospitality etiquette in KoreaNorth?
Koreans do not commonly visit unannounced, and arranged social visits are infrequent, but hosts are very generous, offering guests the best the household has to offer. Showing respect for the family and state is of utmost importance during visits.
Do
- Bring a gift for the hosts as a sign of respect — often fruit, a beverage, or something from your home region
- Remove shoes and hats indoors; wear slippers if provided, otherwise socks
- Pay particular attention to the host and respect his feelings
- Give and receive gifts with both hands
Don’t
- Don't visit unannounced
- Don't expect a superior to visit a subordinate unless special business calls for it
Good to know
- The gesture of giving a gift matters far more than its value
- Guests are nearly always offered light refreshments such as a drink, fruit, crackers, cookies, or coffee
- If there are many guests, age or status determines the best seat, the best cut of meat, and the largest drink
What should I wear in KoreaNorth?
Conservative dress is important in public, and traditional clothing is often worn for special occasions or holidays.
Do
- Dress conservatively in public
- Wear traditional clothing for special occasions — women often wear the two-piece, colorful hanbok, and men wear pants with a loose robe or jacket
Don’t
- Don't go barefoot, as bare feet are inappropriate
Good to know
- Clothing often depends on the event
What gestures and body language should I know in KoreaNorth?
Good posture shows respect, and physical touch is largely limited to friends of the same sex. Hands are generally not used much in conversation.
Do
- Maintain good posture to show respect for the host or speaker
- Remove hats in buildings and in the presence of an elder or superior
- Give and receive gifts with both hands
Don’t
- Don't sit in a relaxed manner, as it is considered an insult
- Don't expose the soles of your feet to another person while sitting
- Don't touch strangers or casual acquaintances, especially between opposite sexes
- Don't look a superior directly in the eye
Good to know
- Men holding hands or slinging an arm over a friend's shoulder is a normal expression of friendship
What is family life like in KoreaNorth?
The family remains important, but the government has redirected traditional devotion toward the larger society and state, promoting the slogan "love your family, love your state."
Good to know
- Both parents usually work and children go to day care
- Consumerism is discouraged in favor of austerity, though workers can earn supplies, benefits, and gifts from employers or the government
- The government has set minimum marriage ages of 27 for men and 25 for women to allow for military service and other obligations
What do people do for recreation in KoreaNorth?
Koreans enjoy traditional sports such as tae-kwon-do and ssirum, a form of wrestling.
Good to know
- Tae-kwon-do is a martial art that originated in Korea 2000 years ago as self-defense exercise
- In ssirum, a competitor grasps the opponent's belt (satba) and tries to throw him to the ground; touching the ground above the knee loses the match
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Sources: CountryReports
Photos of Korea, North
Photos of Korea, North
Travel and Tourism
Travel and Tourism
- Travel Alert Status
- Level 4: Do Not Travel
- Currency
- North Korean won (KPW)
- Time Difference
- UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) time zone note: on 5 May 2018, North Korea reverted to UTC+9, the same time zone as South Korea
- Climate
- temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer
- Airports
- 78
Read the full travel guide — health, safety, vaccinations, disease risk, sanitation, and transit details.
View full travel guideRecipes
Recipes
History
History
Historical Eras
Ancient Kingdoms
100 BCE – 935
The Korean Peninsula was organized into the rival kingdoms of Koguryo, Paekche, and Shilla by the first century AD, with Koguryo dominating much of what is now North Korea and Manchuria. In 668 AD, the Shilla kingdom unified the peninsula under a single rule, blending Buddhist culture with a centralized aristocratic state. This era laid the linguistic, cultural, and ethnic foundations of Korean civilization.
Koryo & Choson Dynasties
935 – 1910
The Koryo dynasty (935–1392), from which the Western name 'Korea' derives, succeeded Shilla and endured Mongol occupation from 1231 into the early 14th century. The Yi clan's Choson dynasty replaced Koryo in 1392 and governed for over five centuries, adopting Confucian statecraft and resisting major Japanese invasions in 1592 and 1597. Korea's isolation in the 19th century earned it the title 'Hermit Kingdom' before Japanese imperial ambitions ended Korean sovereignty.
Japanese Colonial Rule
1910 – 1945
Japan annexed Korea in 1910 following victories in the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese wars, establishing a colonial administration that suppressed Korean language, culture, and organized resistance. Tokyo exercised tight centralized control over the peninsula for 35 years, extracting resources and labor while systematically dismantling traditional Korean institutions. Japan's surrender in August 1945 ended colonial rule and immediately precipitated the division of Korea along the 38th parallel.
Division & Korean War
1945 – 1953
Following World War II, the USSR occupied the north while the United States administered the south, and Cold War deadlock prevented reunification. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea was proclaimed in 1948 under Kim Il-sung, with Soviet troops withdrawing thereafter. The Korean War (1950–1953) devastated the peninsula and ended in an armistice that cemented the division, leaving the DPRK heavily militarized and ideologically hardened.
Kim Il-sung Era
1953 – 1994
Kim Il-sung consolidated absolute power under the Juche ideology of self-reliance, directing rapid heavy industrialization through the 1960s while building one of the world's largest standing armies. The state enforced a cult of personality and rigid socialist command economy, increasingly isolating North Korea from the international community. Decades of mismanagement and resource diversion toward the military eroded living standards and made the country dependent on foreign food assistance.
Kim Jong-il & Nuclear Crisis
1994 – present
Kim Jong-il assumed power following his father's death in 1994, presiding over a catastrophic famine triggered by flooding and economic collapse that killed hundreds of thousands. The regime pursued an aggressive nuclear weapons program, repudiating a 1994 non-proliferation agreement in 2002 and declaring itself a nuclear-armed state in 2005, alarming the international community. Despite a landmark inter-Korean summit in 2000, North Korea remained one of the world's most isolated and militarized states.
Overview
Korea’s traditional religions are Buddhism and Shamanism. Christian missionaries arrived as early as the 16th century, but it was not until the 19th century that major missionary activity began. Pyongyang was a center of missionary activity, and there was a relatively large Christian population in the north before 1945. Although religious groups exist in North Korea today, the government severely restricts religious activity.
By the first century AD, the Korean Peninsula was divided into the kingdoms of Shilla, Koguryo, and Paekche. In 668 AD, the Shilla kingdom unified the peninsula. The Koryo dynasty--from which Portuguese missionaries in the 16th century derived the Western name "Korea"--succeeded the Shilla kingdom in 935. The Choson dynasty, ruled by members of the Yi clan, supplanted Koryo in 1392 and lasted until Japan annexed Korea in 1910.
Throughout its history, Korea has been invaded, influenced, and fought over by its larger neighbors. Korea was under Mongolian occupation from 1231 until the early 14th century. The unifier of Japan, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, launched major invasions of Korea in 1592 and 1597. When Western powers focused "gunboat" diplomacy on Korea in the mid-19th century, Korea’s rulers adopted a closed-door policy, earning Korea the title of "Hermit Kingdom." Though the Choson dynasty recognized China’s hegemony in East Asia, Korea was independent until the late 19th century. At that time, China sought to block growing Japanese influence on the Korean Peninsula and Russian pressure for commercial gains there. The competition produced the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95 and the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05. Japan emerged victorious from both wars and in 1910 annexed Korea as part of the growing Japanese empire. Japanese colonial administration was characterized by tight control from Tokyo and ruthless efforts to supplant Korean language and culture. Organized Korean resistance during the colonial era was generally unsuccessful, and Japan remained firmly in control of the Peninsula until the end of World War II in 1945. The surrender of Japan in August 1945 led to the immediate division of Korea into two occupation zones, with the United States administering the southern half of the peninsula and the U.S.S.R. taking over the area to the north of the 38th parallel. This division was meant to be temporary until the United States, U.K., Soviet Union, and China could arrange a trusteeship administration.
In December 1945, a conference was convened in Moscow to discuss the future of Korea. A five-year trusteeship was discussed, and a joint Soviet-American commission was established. The commission met intermittently in Seoul but deadlocked over the issue of establishing a national government. In September 1947, with no solution in sight, the United States submitted the Korean question to the UN General Assembly. Initial hopes for a unified, independent Korea quickly evaporated as the politics of the Cold War and domestic opposition to the trusteeship plan resulted in the 1948 establishment of two separate nations with diametrically opposed political, economic, and social systems. Elections were held in the South under UN observation, and on August 15, 1948, the Republic of Korea (R.O.K.) was established in the South. Syngman Rhee, a nationalist leader, became the Republic’s first president. On September 9, 1948, the North established the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (D.P.R.K.) headed by then-Premier Kim Il-sung, who had been cultivated and supported by the U.S.S.R.
Korean War of 1950-53
Almost immediately after establishment of the D.P.R.K., guerrilla warfare, border clashes, and naval battles erupted between the two Koreas. North Korean forces launched a massive surprise attack and invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950. The United Nations, in accordance with the terms of its Charter, engaged in its first collective action and established the UN Command (UNC), to which 16 member nations sent troops and assistance. Next to South Korea, the United States contributed the largest contingent of
Timeline of Key Events
1231 – 1336
Mongol Domination
Mongol Domination.
1945
Korea was liberated after nearly 40 years of Japanese colonial rule.
Korea was liberated after nearly 40 years of Japanese colonial rule, but it soon faced the tragic division of the North and South along the 38th parallel.
1948
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea proclaimed. Soviet troops withdraw.
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea proclaimed. Soviet troops withdraw.
1950 – 1953
Korean War.
Korean War. South declares independence, sparking North Korean invasion.
1960
Heavy industrial growth.
Heavy industrial growth.
1991
North and South Korea join the United Nations.
North and South Korea join the United Nations.
1992
North Korea agrees to allow inspections by International Atomic Energy Agency.
North Korea agrees to allow inspections by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), but over next two years refuses access to sites of suspected nuclear weapons production.
Read the full history profile — narrative overview, defining eras, and the complete timeline in one place.
View expanded historyInteresting Facts
Interesting Facts
North Korea's capital, Pyongyang was completely rebuilt after the Korean War as a city of wide avenues, neatly designed parks and enormous marble public buildings.
See every fact — trivia, oddities, and curious tidbits gathered from across the country.
View all interesting factsGeography and Environment
Geography and Environment
- Terrain
- mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east
- Climate
- temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer
- Natural Hazards
- late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall
- Current Environmental Issues
- water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; water-borne disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation
Read the full geography and environment profile — terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, land use, and international agreements.
View full geographyPeople & Demographics
People & Demographics
Languages Spoken
Korean
- Korean
Population
- Population
- 22,757,275
- Population in Major Urban Areas
- PYONGYANG (capital) 2.843 million
- Nationality Noun
- Korean(s)
- Ethnic Groups
- racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese
- Language Note
- Korean is spoken in both North and South Korea and is written in a phonetic alphabet created and promulgated in the mid-15th century. While the alphabet is called Hangul in South Korea, it is known as Chosongul in North Korea. Although the Korean language is derived with words adapted from Chinese, the North Koreans, unlike the South Koreans, do not use Chinese characters with Chosongul in their newspapers and publications. They prefer to use only Chosongul, which is sufficient for most needs. There are differences in vocabulary between the North and the South, influenced somewhat by politics and also by the contact each country has had with other nations. Russian, Chinese, and English are taught as second languages in the schools.
Education
- Literacy Definition
- age 15 and over can read and write Korean
Read the full people and society profile — demographics, health, education, religion, languages, and notable people.
View full people and societyGovernment & Politics
Government & Politics
Country Identity
- Country Name
- KoreaNorth
- Full Country Name
- Democratic People's Republic of Korea
- Local - Long
- Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk
Government Structure
- Government Type
- Communist state one-man dictatorship
- Legal System
- based on German civil law system with Japanese influences and Communist legal theory; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
- Executive Branch
- chief of state: KIM Jong Il (since July 1994); note - on 3 September 2003, rubberstamp Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) reelected KIM Jong Il chairman of the National Defense Commission, a position accorded nation's “highest administrative authority”; SPA reelected KIM Yong Nam president of its Presidium also with responsibility of representing state and receiving diplomatic credentials; SPA appointed PAK Pong Ju premier head of government: Premier PAK Pong Ju (since 3 September 2003); Vice Premiers KWAK Pom Gi (since 5 September 1998), JON Sung Hun (since 3 September 2003), RO Tu Chol (since 3 September 2003) cabinet: Naegak (cabinet) members, except for Minister of People's Armed Forces, are appointed by SPA elections: last held in September 2003 (next to be held in September 2008) election results: KIM Jong Il and KIM Yong Nam were only nominees for positions and ran unopposed
- Legislative Branch
- unicameral Supreme People's Assembly or Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui (687 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 3 August 2003 (next to be held in August 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; ruling party approves a list of candidates who are elected without opposition; some seats are held by minor parties
- Judicial Branch
- Central Court (judges are elected by the Supreme People's Assembly)
- Suffrage
- 17 years of age; universal
- Constitution
- adopted 1948, completely revised 27 December 1972, revised again in April 1992 and September 1998
- Independence
- 15 August 1945 (from Japan)
- National Holiday
- Founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9 September (1948)
Capital City
- Capital Name
- Pyongyang
- Capital - geographic coordinate
- 39 01 N, 125 45 E
- Capital Time Difference
- UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) time zone note: on 5 May 2018, North Korea reverted to UTC+9, the same time zone as South Korea
the name translates as "flat land" in Korean
Military
Branches: North Korean People's Army: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force; civil security forces
Embassy / Diplomatic Mission
North Korea does not have an embassy in the United States. U.S. citizens and residents planning to travel to North Korea may obtain DPRK visas at the DPRK Embassy in Beijing, China, which will issue visas only upon authorization from the DPRK Foreign Ministry in Pyongyang.
Before departing for China, you may wish to contact the DPRK Embassy in Beijing to confirm it has received authorization from Pyongyang to issue you a visa.
The Embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in Beijing
No. 11, Ritan Bei Lu,
Jianguomen Wai,
Chaoyang District
Beijing, China 100600
Telephone: (86-10) 6532-6639 (Visa Office)
Telephone: (86-10) 65312-1186
Facsimile: (86-10) 6532-6056
If you wish to ask the DPRK whether your application for a visa would be approved, you may address your inquiry to the Permanent Representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the United Nations in New York.
The Permanent Representative of the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea to the United Nations
820 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Telephone: (212) 972-3105
Facsimile: (212) 972-3154
If you live abroad in a country with diplomatic relations with the DPRK, you could ask the DPRK embassy in that country for visa advice.
The Embassy of Sweden (U.S. Protecting Power):
Swedish Embassy (U.S. Protecting Power)
Munsu-Dong District
Pyongyang, DPRK
Telephone: (850-2) 3817 485 (reception)
Telephone: (850-2) 3817 904, (850-2) 3817 907 (Deputy)
Telephone: (850-2) 3817 908, (850-2) 3817 905 (Ambassador)
Facsimile: (850-2) 3817 663
Email: ambassaden.pyongyang@gov.se
U.S. Embassy Beijing: The Embassy is located near the Ladies' Street (Nuren Jie) and Laitai Flower Market, opposite the Kempinski Hotel and Lufthansa shopping Center.
U.S. Embassy Beijing
American Citizens Services Unit
No. 55 An Jia Lou Road
Chaoyang District
Beijing, China 100600
Telephone: (86-10) 8531-4000
Facsimile: (86-10) 8531-3300
Email: beijingacs@state.gov
Emergency after-hours telephone: (86-10) 8531-4000
U.S. Embassy Seoul: The Embassy is located across the street from Sejong Cultural Center and next to the Ministry of Information and Communication/KT Building.
U. S. Embassy Seoul
American Citizen Services Unit
188 Sejong Daero, Jongno-gu
Seoul, Republic of Korea
Telephone: (82-2) 397-4114
Facsimile: (82-2) 2-397-4101
E-mail: seoulinfo@state.gov
Emergency after-hours telephone: (82-2) 397-4114
Read the full government profile — flag symbolism, national anthem, and other national symbols.
View full government detailsEconomy
Economy
North Korea operates one of the world's most centrally planned and isolated economies, facing chronic and severe economic hardship. Industrial capital stock remains nearly beyond repair after decades of underinvestment, sanctions, and shortages of spare parts, while industrial and power output continue to lag far behind the country's needs. The nation has endured persistent food insecurity for decades, driven by limited arable land, inefficient collective farming, recurring weather-related disasters, and chronic shortages of fertilizer and fuel. The United Nations and humanitarian agencies estimate that roughly 40 percent of the population is undernourished, with millions requiring food assistance.
Massive military spending, including investment in nuclear and ballistic missile programs, continues to absorb resources needed for civilian consumption and infrastructure. International sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council in response to weapons testing have severely curtailed exports of coal, iron ore, textiles, and seafood—traditionally key sources of foreign currency. China remains North Korea's overwhelming trading partner, accounting for the vast majority of its external trade.
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted Pyongyang to seal its borders in early 2020, halting nearly all formal trade and humanitarian assistance for an extended period and deepening shortages of food, medicine, and consumer goods. Although limited cross-border trade with China has gradually resumed since 2022, the economy contracted significantly during the closure. Informal markets, known as jangmadang, remain a critical lifeline for ordinary citizens, even as the regime periodically tightens controls on private commerce. Vulnerable groups, including the elderly, children, and rural populations, continue to bear the heaviest burden of malnutrition and deteriorating living standards.
Snapshot
- Currency Name and Code
- North Korean Won (KPW)
- GDP Real Growth Rate
- 1%
Banknotes
Budget & Public Finance
- Fiscal Year
- calendar year
- External Debt
- $12,000,000,000 (USD)
- Economic Aid
- $133,000,000 (USD)
Labor, Industry & Trade
- Labor Force by Occupation
- agricultural 36%; nonagricultural 64%
- Industries
- military products; machine building, electric power, chemicals; mining (coal, iron ore, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food processing; tourism
- Agriculture Products
- rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; cattle, pigs, pork, eggs
- Export Commodities
- minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures (including armaments); textiles and fishery products
- Export Partners
- South Korea 28.5%, China 28.4%, Japan 24.7%
- Import Commodities
- petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment; textiles, grain
- Import Partners
- China 39.7%, Thailand 14.6%, Japan 11.2%, Germany 7.6%, South Korea 6.2%
Energy
- Oil Production
- 0 bbl/day
- Oil Consumption
- 25,000 bbl/day
- Oil Reserves
- 0 bbl/day
- Natural Gas Production
- 0 cu m
- Natural Gas Consumption
- 0 cu m
- Natural Gas Imports
- 0 cu m
- Natural Gas Exports
- 0 cu m
- Natural Gas Reserves
- 0 cu m
Communications
- Telephone System
- general assessment: adequate system; nationwide fiber-optic network; mobile-cellular service expanding beyond Pyongyang domestic: fiber-optic links installed down to the county level; telephone directories unavailable; GSM mobile-cellular service initiated in 2002 but suspended in 2004; Orascom Telecom Holding, an Egyptian company, launched W-CDMA mobile service on 15 December 2008 for the Pyongyang area, has expanded service to several large cities and now has a 1-million-person subscriber base international: country code - 850; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean, 1 Russian - Indian Ocean region); other international connections through Moscow and Beijing
- Internet Country Code
- .kp
News & Weather
News & Weather
Current Weather
Latest News
Kim Jong Un was meant to be their only idol - then North Koreans discovered K-pop - BBC
BBC · 2d ago
Russia's Putin meets North Korea's top diplomat in Kremlin - Reuters
Reuters · 8h ago
Ukraine war briefing: Russia behind deadly strike on cargo ship, says Ukraine, as Putin thanks North Korea - The Guardian
The Guardian · 10h ago
N.Korea calls Seoul a ‘puppet’ for role in RIMPAC exercises off Hawaii - Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Honolulu Star-Advertiser · 2d ago
Putin Meets Kim Envoy After Chinese Official’s North Korea Visit - Bloomberg.com
Bloomberg.com · 12h ago
North Korea's Pixel 8 Pro clone packs 16GB of RAM despite RAMageddon - Notebookcheck
Notebookcheck · 1d ago
North Korea Taps India for Smartphones - 38 North
38 North · 3d ago
Top diplomats of S. Korea, U.S., Japan to meet in Manila this week - upi.com
upi.com · 3h ago
News via Google News
Climate Overview
temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer
Videos
Videos
1 curated YouTube videos.
Source: YouTube
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
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Last reviewed 2026