In order to get a tourist visa, a relevant application should be submitted to the travel company concerned 10-30 days prior to one’s departure. The application shall include the name (names of each member for a group), sex, age, birthday, nationality, occupation, type and number of passport, estimated entry/exit dates, means of transportation and name of the country where the visa is to be obtained. The visa may be issued at the diplomatic missions, consulates or travel companies staying abroad of the DPRK.
The application should be accompanied by two photos and a visa fee.
On arriving at the airport or railway station, visitors may be asked about vaccinations by officials from the local vaccinations offices.
Those from the area or the country where avian flu, AIDS, typhoid fever, cholera, measles and other epidemic diseases prevalent are required to show vaccination certificate issued by their countries.
When the visitors arrive at the airport, they should go through the immigration office.
When they arrive by rail or by sea, they should pass through immigration procedures in their compartments or cabins.
Visitors are to fill in the entry card and submit it with their passports to the immigration office and be checked.
After passing through the immigration office, visitors should undergo customs procedure.
Declaration form is to be filled individually or by leader of a group.
Exchange of currencies is available at the Trade Bank of the DPRK or its agents in hotels, shops and restaurants.
Convertible currencies are as follows:
No | Currency | Code |
1 | Euro | EUR |
2 | Swiss Franc | CHF |
3 | Pound Sterling | GBP |
4 | Singapore Dollar | SGD |
5 | Australian Dollar | AUD |
6 | Chinese Yuan | CNY |
7 | Hong Kong Dollar | HKD |
8 | Canada Dollar | CAD |
9 | US DOLLAR | USD |
10 | Japanese Yen | JPY |
An international call, fax, and e-mail are available at hotels or at the International Communications Bureau.
Mobile phone can be used after the service card for it is obtained at the hotel.
You can send letters and post cards by dropping them into the post boxes in hotels, post offices or streets. Letter papers, envelops, post cards and stamps are available at the hotel bookshops, post offices and the like.
Packets are dealt at the International Post Office or at the DHL Pyongyang office.
The International Post Office is located in Haebangsan Street, Central District, Pyongyang and the DHL Pyongyang Office near Kim Il Sung Square.
The Pyongyang Friendship Hospital is a medical service establishment exclusively for foreigners. Foreign visitors may receive medical treatment at any hospitals or clinics in Pyongyang and other regions.
Medicines are available from any shops in hotels and chemists.
Voltage: 220V/60Hz
FLIGHT ROUTE | FLIGHT NUMBER | DAYS | DEP | APR |
Pyongyang – Beijing | JS 151 | Mon, Fri | 08:50 | 10:00 |
Beijing – Pyongyang | JS 152 | Mon, Fri | 12:00 | 15:00 |
Pyongyang – Beijing | JS 151 | Tue, Sat | 08:30 | 09:50 |
Beijing – Pyongyang | JS 152 | Tue, Sat | 13:50 | 16:05 |
Pyongyang – Beijing | JS 251 | Thu | 10:15 | 11:35 |
Beijing – Pyongyang | JS 252 | Thu | 14:00 | 17:00 |
Pyongyang – Shenyang | JS 155 | Mon | 09:05 | 09:15 |
Shenyang – Pyongyang | JS 156 | Mon | 10:55 | 13:05 |
Pyongyang – Shenyang | JS 155 | Wen, Sat | 11:50 | 12:00 |
Shenyang – Pyongyang | JS 156 | Wen, Sat | 13:55 | 16:10 |
Pyongyang – Shanghai | JS 157 | Thu, Sun | 21:50 | 23:30 |
Shanghai – Pyongyang | JS 158 | Thu, Sun | 00:30 | 03:50 |
Pyongyang – Vladivostok | JS 271 | Mon, Fri | 08:30 | 11:00 |
Vladivostok – Pyongyang | JS 272 | Mon, Fri | 12:20 | 13:00 |
Pyongyang – Orang (Chongjin) | JS 4101 | Tue, Fri | 10:00 | 11:00 |
Orang – Pyongyang | JS 4102 | Tue, Fri | 15:00 | 16:00 |
Pyongyang – Samjiyon (Paekdu) | JS 3101 | Tue, Fri | 10:30 | 12:00 |
Samjiyon – Pyongyang | JS 3102 | Tue, Fri | 15:30 | 17:00 |
The standard time of DPRK is Pyongyang time. Pyongyang time is 9 hours ahead of Greenwich Meantime.
City | Difference |
Pyongyang | 0 |
Tokyo | 0 |
Melbourne | +1 |
Wellington | +3 |
Honolulu | +5 |
San Francisco | +7 |
Mexico | +8 |
Guatemala | +9 |
Havana, New York, Panama | +10 |
Santiago de Chile | +11 |
Buenos Aires | +12 |
Beijing, Manila | -1 |
Bangkok | -2 |
New Delhi, Colombo | -3:30 |
Karachi | -4 |
Istanbul, Moscow, St. Peterburg | -6 |
Bucharest, Sofia, Prague | -8 |
Helsinki, Cairo, Berlin, Paris | -8 |
Warsaw, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna | -8 |
London, Lisbon, Rabat | -9 |
Pyongyang Metro
Opened in Juche 62 (1973), Pyongyang Metro is one of the most popular means of transport. This is so beautiful and charming that it is called the pride of Pyongyang. Each of the stations is uniquely decorated with murals, sculptures and architectural designs that are of high ideological and artistic quality. The Metro is linked with most of the parts in the city.
Tram Car
Tram cars are another major means of transport in Pyongyang.
Trolley Bus
Transport by trolley bus is highly developed in Pyongyang.
Bus
There are many buses in service on several routes of the city.
Taxi
Taxi is the most useful means of transport to especially those who are not familiar with Pyongyang. Taxi service is available everywhere including at parking lots near your hotels. Otherwise you may ring or ask receptionists and guides at hotel.
The Juche era was instituted with 1912 as the first year, the year when President Kim Il Sung was born as the sun of Juche, on the occasion of the 3rd anniversary of his demise to add eternal glory to his immortal revolutionary career and exploits.
On the occasion of the 70th birthday of Chairman Kim Jong Il in Juche 101 (2012) his birthday (February 16) was instituted as the Day of the Shining Star.
∘ January 1: New Year’s Day
∘ Lunar January 1: Lunar New Year’s Day
∘ February 8: Founding Day of the Korean People’s Army (1948)
∘ February 16: The Day of the Shining Star February, 16, Juche 31(1942) The Chairman Kim Jong Il was born.
∘ March 8: International Women’s Day
∘ Lunar January 15: Jongwoldaeborum (Full Moon Day)
∘ April 15: The Day of the Sun April, 15, Juche 1(1912) The President Kim Il Sung was born.
∘ April 25: Day of the Founding of the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army (1932)
∘ May 1: The Day of the Working People of the Whole World (1889)
∘ June 6: The Founding Day of the Korean Children’s Union (1946)
∘ June 19: June, 19, Juche 53(1964) The Chairman Kim Jong Il started work at the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea.
∘ July 27: Day of Victory in the Fatherland Liberation War (1953)
∘ August 15: Korea’s Liberation Day (1945)
∘ August 25: The Day of Songun (1960)
∘ September 9: The Founding Day of the DPRK (1948)
∘ Lunar August 15: Chusok (Harvest Moon Day)
∘ October 10: The Founding Day of the WPK (1945)
∘ November 16: Mother’s Day
∘ December 27: The DPRK Socialist Constitution Day