Asia and Oceania

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

• Travel within the DPRK is severely restricted. DPRK leader Kim Jong-Il died on 17 December 2011. We assess that there is currently no increased risk or danger to British nationals in the DPRK, but British nationals resident in or travelling to the country are advised to monitor local news updates regularly and to register with the British Embassy in Pyongyang. Travellers to DPRK should avoid remarks about the leadership which could be deemed offensive.
  
  
• Tensions on the Korean peninsula were raised during 2010 following the sinking of the South Korean Ship Cheonan and the artillery attack against the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong. We assess that there is no evidence of any increased risk or danger to those living in or travelling to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) (North Korea) as a result of this incident.  However further provocations by DPRK cannot be ruled out and you should continue to monitor news reports.
  
  
• It is not possible to enter the DPRK (North Korea) from the Republic of Korea (ROK) (South Korea), unless making an official visit to the Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC). Visitors should note that the ability of the British Embassy Pyongyang to provide consular assistance to those visiting the KIC is severely limited due to restricted access.
  
  
• The threat from terrorism is low, but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.
  
  

• You should register with the British Embassy in Pyongyang prior to your arrival. See General - registering with the British Embassy.
  

• Very few British nationals visit North Korea and those that do are usually part of an organised tour. Most visits are trouble-free. See General - Consular Assistance Statistics.
  

• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See General - Insurance.

Safety and Security - Terrorism
The threat from terrorism in the DPRK is low, but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners. See our terrorism abroad page.

Safety and Security - Crime
Crime against foreigners in North Korea is unusual but not unheard of. Exercise normal safety precautions and ensure that valuables are secure.

See our victims of crime abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local travel
Tourists can normally only travel to North Korea as part of an organised tour. Solo travellers need a sponsor and permission from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. This is normally only possible for business travellers.

Travel within the DPRK is severely restricted. Whether you are visiting on business or as a tourist, you will almost always be accompanied by a guide and will only be allowed to go where your guide is content for you to go. For travel outside Pyongyang, it is your guide's responsibility to obtain the necessary permissions. Military checkpoints at the entry and exit to all towns usually require sight of identity documents before allowing travel onward.

Foreigners resident in Pyongyang are usually able to travel freely within the city, but permission is often required for travel outside of Pyongyang.

It is not possible for you to travel direct to South Korea from North Korea, unless making an official visit to the Kaesong Industrial Complex.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road travel
A limited number of taxis are sometimes available from hotels or outside department stores. However, they are reluctant to take you without a local guide/interpreter.

International driving licences are not valid in North Korea. Foreigners resident in North Korea must be in possession of a local licence, obtained by passing a local driving test.

See our driving abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Rail travel
Rail travel is possible in North Korea. However, the domestic network is small, the equipment is old and trains are subject to delays because of electricity shortages. There is a rail service between Pyongyang and Beijing via Sinuiju/Dandong (North Korean and Chinese border towns) four times a week, although delays are frequent and facilities on board are basic. The advertised journey time is approximately 24 hours. There is also a weekly rail service to Moscow that takes six and a half days.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Air travel
Most travellers enter North Korea on direct flights from Beijing to Pyongyang operated by Air China twice per week (three times per week between March and October) and Air Koryo, the North Korean national airline, three times per week. Air Koryo also operates regular international flights to Shenyang and occasional flights to other, mostly domestic, destinations.

In 2006, Air Koryo was included on the EU blacklist of airlines that are not permitted to operate services to the EU because they do not meet international safety standards. However, the European Commission issued a press release on 30 March 2010 which announced a relaxation of the ban on Air Koryo flights. The text included the following:

“With this update, the Air Koryo licensed in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, subject to an operating ban since March 2006, is allowed to resume operations into the EU with two aircraft which are fitted with the necessary equipment to comply with mandatory international standards and following appropriate oversight by its authority. The rest of its fleet remains barred from operating into the EU.”

The two aircraft referred to in the text are both the Tupolev Tu204 model.

Despite being on the EU blacklist Air Koryo is still used by some members of Pyongyang’s international community, including businesspeople, diplomats, NGOs and International Organisations. However, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has explained the concerns about Air Koryo to its staff and advised them to avoid using Air Koryo unless operationally essential. Bear this in mind when making your travel plans.

Safety and Security - Political situation
North Korea country profile

Since the end of the Korean War in 1953, the Korean peninsula has been divided by a de-militarised zone (DMZ) separating North and South Korea. Peace has been maintained under an Armistice Agreement. Tensions rise and fall from time to time. Following the fatal shooting in July 2008 of a South Korean tourist who reportedly strayed into a restricted military area while visiting North Korea, we recommend that travellers take care to remain in permitted areas and move away immediately if asked to do so by North Korean officials.

On 5 April 2009 North Korea launched a satellite using ballistic missile technology, in breach of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1718. This drew widespread condemnation including a statement from the UN Security Council. On 25 May 2009, North Korea announced that it had carried out a second underground nuclear test (the first was in October 2006) and fired a number of short-range missiles. Regional tensions were raised significantly, and in response the UN Security Council unanimously agreed UNSCR 1874 which extended the sanctions imposed by UNSCR 1718. Since then there has been a stalemate over Six-Party Talks.

Tensions on the peninsula were further heightened following the sinking of the South Korean Navy Ship Cheonan on 26 March 2010 in which 46 sailors were killed. An international investigation concluded that a torpedo from a DPRK submarine was to blame but the DPRK denied any involvement. On 23 November 2010 DPRK troops fired artillery towards Yeonpyeong Island near the Yellow Sea border, killing two South Korean marines and two civilians, and causing numerous other casualties.

We assess that there is no evidence of any increased risk or danger to those living in or travelling to DPRK as a result of current tensions. However, further provocations by DPRK cannot be ruled out and you should continue to monitor news reports.

Perceived insults to, or jokes about, the North Korean political system and its leadership are severely frowned upon. Foreigners have very occasionally found themselves caught up in criminal cases for not paying what was deemed to be a sufficient level of respect.

Foreign mobile phones and Global Positioning Systems have to be deposited with North Korean customs on entry into the country and collected on departure. It is also not advisable to bring books or other written material in the Korean language. These and any other literature deemed subversive or pornographic by the North Korean authorities risk being confiscated from travellers on arrival.

Tipping is officially frowned upon, but is increasingly expected by some hotel staff.

Always carry some form of identification. Hotels will want passports for registration, but these can usually be reclaimed within the hour.

Ask permission before taking photographs. Photographs of Korean officials or guarded or protected buildings should be avoided.

See our your trip page.

Entry Requirements - Visas
Visas are required to enter North Korea. Contact the Embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, in London.

You must register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if your visit is for more than twenty-four hours. Most hotels will automatically complete this process on your behalf.

Entry Requirements - Passport validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter North Korea. Your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. No additional period of validity beyond this is required. However, it is always sensible to have a short period of extra validity on your passport in case of any unforeseen delays to your departure. You do not have to wait until your old passport expires to apply to renew it. Any time left on your old passport when you apply will be added to your new passport, up to a maximum of nine months. For passport applications in the UK, you should apply to the Identity and Passport Service.

Entry Requirements - Travelling with children
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country, or in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. We do not currently allow our staff based in North Korea to be accompanied by their children because of the limited medical facilities within North Korea.

Health facilities in North Korea are poor, even for foreigners. Standards of clinical hygiene in hospitals are poor. Anaesthetics are sometimes unavailable. Evacuation is necessary for serious illness/injury. Invasive surgery should be avoided if at all possible. Facilities for dental treatment are also poor.

Ensure that you take sufficient supplies of any medication that you may require, as local purchase of most foreign-manufactured medicines is not possible and local medical supplies are severely limited.

Japanese encephalitis occurs in North Korea, especially during the summer. Cholera also occurs and all water is a potential health risk. You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to North Korea seek immediate medical attention.

Exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. See our HIV and AIDS page.

Seek medical advice before travelling to DPRK and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention visit the websites of the National Travel Heath Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and or NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

See our travel health page.

Flooding is common in the rainy season (July to August). This can disrupt travel especially to rural areas. You are advised to check that routes are passable before setting out on long journeys.

General - Insurance
You should take out comprehensive medical and travel insurance before travelling to North Korea. Ensure that your insurance covers you for unexpected losses such as cancelled flights, theft of passport or luggage. Check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See our travel insurance page. 

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then see our When Things Go Wrong page.

General - Registering with the British Embassy
Register with the British Embassy as soon as possible after arrival. Alternatively, you can contact the Embassy in advance by email with your details. You may register with the FCO's LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

General - Money
From 1 January 2010 all transactions conducted in DPRK should be made using local currency (North Korean Won). However, as foreigners are not permitted to obtain Won the shops and restaurants catering to visitors will change foreign currency into Won on site and at the official rate. Cash is the only acceptable form of payment, with the Euro and US Dollar being the most widely recognised and accepted currencies, although Chinese RMB is also accepted in some places. The import and export of local currency is prohibited. The import and export of foreign currency is unrestricted, subject to declaration on arrival. Credit cards and travellers’ cheques are not accepted. Some hotels may insist on full payment in advance when checking in.

General - Consular Assistance Statistics
Very few British nationals visit North Korea and those that do are usually part of an organised tour. Most visits are trouble-free. Two British nationals required consular assistance in North Korea in the period 01 April 2009 - 31 March 2010 for the following types of incident: one hospitalisation; and one arrest. No British nationals have required consular assistance in North Korea since 01 April 2010.