North Korea

North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, occupies the northern portion of the Korean Peninsula in East Asia, bordering China to the north, Russia to the northeast, and South Korea to the south along the heavily fortified DMZ. Pyongyang is the capital. Korean is the sole official language and the North Korean won is the currency. The country operates under a single-party state guided by the Juche ideology of self-reliance, with a deeply centralised government.

North Korea is one of the most difficult countries in the world to enter legally. Tourism has been effectively suspended since 2020. When permitted, virtually all foreign visitors required a government-approved guided tour arranged through an authorised tour operator, with a visa issued only after formal approval from Pyongyang authorities. Independent travel is not permitted. Travellers should consult their own government's official foreign travel advisories before any attempt.

Pyongyang's Kim Il-sung Square is among the largest public squares in the world, framed by monumental Soviet-influenced architecture. The Kumsusan Palace of the Sun serves as the mausoleum for North Korea's first two leaders. Mount Paektu in the far north is a vast volcanic caldera holding the crater lake Cheonji, considered sacred in Korean culture. The Koryo Museum in Kaesong houses relics from the medieval Goryeo dynasty within a well-preserved complex. The DMZ at Panmunjom offers one of the world's most geopolitically charged border experiences.

North Korea has a continental climate with four distinct seasons. Winters are long and harsh, with temperatures in Pyongyang dropping to around −10 °C or below; the mountainous interior is colder still. Summers are warm and humid, reaching 25–30 °C, with most annual rainfall concentrated in the July–August monsoon period. Spring and early autumn bring milder, drier conditions and are considered the most comfortable periods climatically. Pack for significant cold if visiting outside summer months.

• Operates its own calendar system starting from 1912.
• Has the world's largest stadium by seating capacity.
• State television broadcasts on only a handful of channels.
• Border with South Korea is among the world's most fortified.
• Arirang mass games involve hundreds of thousands of performers.

• naenara.com.kp — DPRK's official state web portal
• kcna.kp — Korean Central News Agency, official state news
• tourismdprk.gov.kp — officially designated North Korea tourism authority site