North Korea

Travel advice levels

Each government rates the risks for its own citizens, on its own scale. The levels are shown exactly as published; they are not equivalent to each other and are not combined here.

United KingdomForeign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Advises against all but essential travel to the whole country

No numbered levels

Updated 10 December 2025

Latest change, in the source's words: New information about dual nationals returning to the UK (‘Entry requirements’ page).

Full advice on GOV.UK

United StatesU.S. Department of State

Level 4: Do Not Travel

Level 4 of 4

Updated 29 April 2025

The official source shows no update to this advice in over 12 months. Check the official page for the current version.

Full advice on travel.state.gov

CanadaGlobal Affairs Canada

Avoid all travel

Level 4 of 4

Updated 24 September 2026

Latest change, in the source's words: The Health section was updated - travel health information (Public Health Agency of Canada)

Full advice on travel.gc.ca

Emergency numbers

The UK government's travel advice for North Korea has no section on this topic. Read the full advice on GOV.UK.

Local laws and customs

From the section “Laws and cultural differences” of the UK government's travel advice for North Korea, written for British travellers. Reproduced without changes to the wording; formatting adapted.

Take care with your words and actions during your stay. Insults or jokes about the North Korean political system and its leadership are taken very seriously. Offences that would be considered trivial in other countries can incur very severe penalties in North Korea. This includes the promotion of other religions or beliefs.

Arrests and trials

Foreign nationals may face arrest for not paying sufficient respect, including not treating images of the current and former North Korean leaders with care.

The North Korean authorities have previously arrested visitors with or without specified charges, including 4 US citizens and one Canadian citizen. Some have faced public trials and imprisonment.

In 2016 a US national was convicted of ‘crimes against the state’ and sentenced to 15 years of hard labour. The court had found him guilty of attempting to steal a political banner from the staff quarters of a tourist hotel. He fell into a coma while in detention and was released in 2017, but died soon after his return to the US.

If arrested, you are not guaranteed access to phone calls with family and friends or the British Embassy, or to independent legal advice or interpretation services.

Taking photos or videos

Ask permission from your tour guide before taking any photographs. Avoid pointing cameras at North Korean officials or guarded buildings.

LGBT+ travellers

Although there’s no specific legislation outlawing same-sex relationships in North Korea, the authorities do not recognise same-sex rights and consider same-sex relationships and behaviours unacceptable.

Travelling with medicines

From the section “Medication” of the UK government's travel advice for North Korea, written for British travellers. Reproduced without changes to the wording; formatting adapted.

Basic medication including antibiotics is sometimes unavailable in North Korea.

The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries. Read best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro.

Extreme weather and natural disasters

From the section “Extreme weather and natural disasters” of the UK government's travel advice for North Korea, written for British travellers. Reproduced without changes to the wording; formatting adapted.

Flooding is common in the rainy season from July to August. This can disrupt travel, especially to rural areas. Check that routes are passable before setting out on long journeys.

What to pack

Practical suggestions from Trip Rulebook, based on open data and fixed rules. They are not safety or legal advice: rules on clothing, medicines and restricted items are covered only by the official text on this page.

Chargers and plugs

Plug typesCF

Voltage220/380 V

Frequency50 Hz

Will my plug fit? Where are your devices from?

Plug and voltage data: Wikipedia, “Mains electricity by country”, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence), retrieved 2026-09-29. Sockets in hotels can differ; the label on your charger (for example “INPUT 100–240V”) tells you which voltages it accepts.

Clothes for the weather

Rainfall Average temperature

January

Average: -10 °C (14 °F)
Lows: -15 °C (4 °F)
Highs: -5 °C (23 °F)
Rain: 13 mm (0.5 in)

Warm jacket or coat, jumper and long trousers.
Nights below freezing on average: hat, gloves and warm layers.
Usually dry.

February

Average: -7 °C (20 °F)
Lows: -12 °C (10 °F)
Highs: -1 °C (30 °F)
Rain: 17 mm (0.7 in)

Warm jacket or coat, jumper and long trousers.
Nights below freezing on average: hat, gloves and warm layers.
Usually dry.

March

Average: 0 °C (32 °F)
Lows: -5 °C (22 °F)
Highs: 5 °C (41 °F)
Rain: 29 mm (1.1 in)

Warm jacket or coat, jumper and long trousers.
Nights below freezing on average: hat, gloves and warm layers.
Usually dry.

April

Average: 8 °C (46 °F)
Lows: 1 °C (35 °F)
Highs: 14 °C (56 °F)
Rain: 48 mm (1.9 in)

Warm jacket or coat, jumper and long trousers.
Big difference between day and night: pack layers.
Some rain on average: a compact umbrella.

May

Average: 14 °C (56 °F)
Lows: 8 °C (46 °F)
Highs: 20 °C (67 °F)
Rain: 90 mm (3.5 in)

Light jacket or fleece and long sleeves.
Big difference between day and night: pack layers.
Some rain on average: a compact umbrella.

June

Average: 18 °C (64 °F)
Lows: 13 °C (55 °F)
Highs: 23 °C (74 °F)
Rain: 118 mm (4.7 in)

Light jacket or fleece and long sleeves.
Frequent rain on average: a rain jacket or umbrella.

July

Average: 21 °C (70 °F)
Lows: 17 °C (63 °F)
Highs: 26 °C (78 °F)
Rain: 245 mm (9.6 in)

Light clothes, with a light layer for the evenings.
Very wet month on average: waterproof jacket, quick-dry clothes and a dry bag.

August

Average: 21 °C (71 °F)
Lows: 17 °C (63 °F)
Highs: 26 °C (78 °F)
Rain: 231 mm (9.1 in)

Light clothes, with a light layer for the evenings.
Very wet month on average: waterproof jacket, quick-dry clothes and a dry bag.

September

Average: 16 °C (61 °F)
Lows: 11 °C (51 °F)
Highs: 21 °C (71 °F)
Rain: 103 mm (4.0 in)

Light jacket or fleece and long sleeves.
Frequent rain on average: a rain jacket or umbrella.

October

Average: 9 °C (49 °F)
Lows: 3 °C (38 °F)
Highs: 15 °C (59 °F)
Rain: 51 mm (2.0 in)

Warm jacket or coat, jumper and long trousers.
Some rain on average: a compact umbrella.

November

Average: 1 °C (33 °F)
Lows: -4 °C (24 °F)
Highs: 6 °C (42 °F)
Rain: 42 mm (1.6 in)

Warm jacket or coat, jumper and long trousers.
Nights below freezing on average: hat, gloves and warm layers.
Some rain on average: a compact umbrella.

December

Average: -7 °C (19 °F)
Lows: -12 °C (10 °F)
Highs: -3 °C (27 °F)
Rain: 20 mm (0.8 in)

Warm jacket or coat, jumper and long trousers.
Nights below freezing on average: hat, gloves and warm layers.
Usually dry.

National averages for 1991-2020. Coasts, mountains and regions can be very different, and any given year can be warmer, colder or wetter. Suggestions come from fixed rules based on these averages. Climate data: World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal, observed climate data (CRU TS), CRU TS (cru_ts4.09), Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia, CC BY 4.0 (licence).

What is acceptable to wear is a matter of local law and custom: read Local laws and customs. For seasonal hazards such as storms, floods or extreme heat, read the official section Extreme weather and natural disasters.

Entry requirements and visas

Visa and entry rules depend on your nationality and change often, so Trip Rulebook does not summarise them. Each government explains the rules for its own citizens. If you travel on another passport, check with the embassy or the official immigration website of North Korea.

About this page

This page is guidance, not legal advice. Laws and advice change without notice and are written for each government's own citizens, so they may apply to you differently. Confirm everything with the official source before you travel. Terms of use.