Geo Countries
North Korea national flag - official symbol of Asia

Current Date And Time In North Korea

Wednesday, 12 August 2026
11:53:22 KST
Capital: Pyongyang
Currency: North Korean won (KPW)
Timezone: UTC +08:30 (KST)
Population: 26,559,747

✈️ North Korea - Travel Information


Complete travel intelligence for North Korea — covering electrical plug types (Type A–O), voltage & frequency standards, emergency phone numbers, driving side, international dialing code, internet domain and key Human Development Index (HDI) indicators. A practical reference for corporate travellers, expatriates, supply chain professionals, electronics importers, logistics coordinators and international business professionals planning operations in North Korea.

Why This Data Matters: Packing the wrong plug adapter or voltage converter can permanently damage equipment worth thousands of dollars. Calling the wrong emergency number costs critical response time. Not knowing which side of the road North Korea drives on creates road safety risks. HDI scores, GDP per capita, life expectancy and literacy rates directly inform market entry decisions, workforce planning, investment risk assessment and strategic decision-making for businesses expanding into North Korea.

Quick Links: Overview | Map | Currency | Languages | National Symbols | Nearby Countries

📊 Development & Social Indicators

life expectancy at birth 73.7 years, adult literacy rate 100.0%, unemployment rate 3.6%. Published annually by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), these socioeconomic indicators benchmark North Korea's Human Development Index (HDI), quality of life, workforce readiness and consumer market potential. Business analysts, market research teams and investment strategists use this data for market entry analysis, workforce planning and location intelligence when evaluating North Korea as an operational or investment destination.

IndicatorValueCategory / Note
👤 Life Expectancy73.7 yearsAverage years at birth
📚 Literacy Rate100.0%Adults 15+ years
💼 Unemployment Rate3.6%As % of labour force

🚗 Driving & General Info

North Korea uses Right-hand traffic — always confirm driving side in North Korea before renting a car, booking a self-drive hire or dispatching a company vehicle fleet. This section also covers North Korea's time zone +08:30, country calling code +850 (exit prefix 00) and country internet domain .KP. Practical data for corporate travellers, expats, car rental operators, logistics teams and international business professionals managing cross-border operations in North Korea.

AttributeValue
🚗 Driving Side➡️ Right side of road
⏰ Time Zone(s)+08:30
📞 Country Calling Code+850
☎️ International Exit Prefix00
🌐 Internet Domain.KP

🚨 Emergency Numbers

Verified emergency phone numbers for North Korea — police 112, ambulance 119, fire brigade 119, general emergency 119. Save these to your phone before arriving in North Korea. In a genuine emergency, dialling the wrong number costs critical response time. North Korea emergency contacts are used by corporate travel managers, expatriate support teams, field operations staff and international logistics coordinators as part of travel risk management and business continuity planning.

🚔
Police
112
🚑
Ambulance
119
🚒
Fire
119
📞
General
119

✈️ How Far Is North Korea From Major World Cities?

Straight-line (great-circle) distance from North Korea to the world's major travel hubs, with an estimated non-stop flight time for each route. Sorted nearest first — a quick reference for comparing route options, layover planning and rough journey budgeting before checking live fares.

CityDistance (km)Distance (mi)Est. Flight Time
Tokyo (Japan)1,182 km734 mi~ 2h 08m
Singapore (Singapore)4,950 km3,076 mi~ 6h 34m
Dubai (United Arab Emirates)6,774 km4,209 mi~ 8h 43m
Sydney (Australia)8,602 km5,345 mi~ 10h 52m
London (United Kingdom)8,614 km5,353 mi~ 10h 53m
Paris (France)8,733 km5,427 mi~ 11h 01m
Los Angeles (United States)9,349 km5,809 mi~ 11h 45m
Auckland (New Zealand)9,843 km6,116 mi~ 12h 20m
Toronto (Canada)10,294 km6,397 mi~ 12h 52m
New York (United States)10,744 km6,676 mi~ 13h 23m

✈ Flight times are estimates for a direct flight at typical cruise speed (~850 km/h) plus taxi and climb time; actual schedules, winds and routings will vary.

⏰ Local Time Offset & DST Status

Operating schedule alignment for North Korea is set to Korea Standard Time (KST) with a current offset of UTC +08:30. Running digital systems, booking flights or arranging conference calls with regional partners in North Korea requires syncing with local business hours to avoid logistics scheduling mismatches.

Standard ParameterCurrent Status
⏰ Active Time ZoneKorea Standard Time (KST)
⏱️ Active UTC OffsetUTC +08:30
📅 DST Observing StatusNot Observed (Standard Time year-round)
🕒 Current Local Time11:53 AM on Wednesday, August 12, 2026

🌍 Time Difference From North Korea to Major World Cities

It is currently 12:23 PM on Wednesday in North Korea. The table below shows the live local time in the world's key business and travel hubs, and how far each one runs ahead of or behind North Korea right now (daylight saving time is already included). Use it to plan international calls, meeting schedules and flight arrivals without time-zone mistakes.

CityCurrent Local TimeCompared To North Korea
New York (United States)Tue, 11:23 PM13h behind
Los Angeles (United States)Tue, 8:23 PM16h behind
Toronto (Canada)Tue, 11:23 PM13h behind
London (United Kingdom)Wed, 4:23 AM8h behind
Paris (France)Wed, 5:23 AM7h behind
Dubai (United Arab Emirates)Wed, 7:23 AM5h behind
Singapore (Singapore)Wed, 11:23 AM1h behind
Tokyo (Japan)Wed, 12:23 PMSame time
Sydney (Australia)Wed, 1:23 PM1h ahead
Auckland (New Zealand)Wed, 3:23 PM3h ahead

ℹ Differences are calculated live from the IANA time-zone database, so active daylight saving periods in either location are automatically reflected.

💱 Money In North Korea — Quick Exchange Reference

The local currency in North Korea is the North Korean won (KPW), written as . The reference values below show roughly what one unit of each major world currency converts to — handy for a quick mental benchmark when checking prices, tipping or withdrawing cash on arrival.

$ 1 US Dollar
₩ 900.00
KPW
€ 1 Euro
₩ 1,038.45
KPW
£ 1 British Pound
₩ 1,215.60
KPW
A$ 1 Australian Dollar
₩ 635.29
KPW
C$ 1 Canadian Dollar
₩ 646.10
KPW

💰 Indicative mid-market cross-rates, last refreshed August 12, 2026. See the full currency profile & live rates before exchanging money.

🗣️ Languages Spoken In North Korea

Knowing which languages are used in North Korea helps with signage, transport bookings, hiring local guides and emergency communication. English proficiency varies by region — learning a few greetings in the local language always earns goodwill.

Official language(s):
Korean

🗣 Explore the complete language profile including regional languages and speaker statistics.

🗺️ Neighbouring Countries Proximity Directory

Aerial distance, direction bearings and direct links to travel standards guides for countries closest to North Korea. Used by international logistics managers and border-crossing planners to evaluate trade corridors, transit logistics and cross-border operations.

FlagCountryDistance (mi)Distance (km)HeadingDirection
National Flag Of South KoreaSouth Korea307 mi493 kmSouth (S)
⬆️
National Flag Of ChinaChina1,301 mi2,093 kmWest (W)
⬆️
National Flag Of RussiaRussia1,735 mi2,792 kmNNW
⬆️

🏙️ Major Travel Hubs & Cities

The top 5 largest municipalities and urban transit hubs in North Korea by population. Listed with precise coordinates and population parameters. Direct links point to city directories containing localized map, geographic coordinates and neighborhood reference datasets.

City / Transit HubState / ProvinceTotal PopulationLatitudeLongitude
PyongyangPyongyang3,222,00039.0339° N125.7543° E
HamhŭngSouth Hamgyong559,05639.9183° N127.5364° E
Namp’oNampo455,00038.7375° N125.4078° E
Sunch’ŏnSouth Pyongan437,00039.4317° N125.9328° E
HŭngnamSouth Hamgyong346,08239.8420° N127.6321° E

🏛️ 7 Wonders Of The World — Distance From North Korea

The closest of the New 7 Wonders to North Korea is the Great Wall of China (China), about 973 km away. Straight-line distances from North Korea to all seven wonders, nearest first — a fun bucket-list planner with a full visiting guide for each monument.

WonderLocationDistance (km)Distance (mi)
Great Wall of ChinaBeijing (nearest major city), China973 km605 mi
Taj MahalAgra, India4,735 km2,942 mi
PetraWadi Musa, Jordan8,045 km4,999 mi
ColosseumRome, Italy8,775 km5,453 mi
Chichén ItzáPisté (nearest town), Mexico12,270 km7,624 mi
Machu PicchuAguas Calientes, Peru16,416 km10,200 mi
Christ the RedeemerRio de Janeiro, Brazil17,895 km11,119 mi

🏛 Click any wonder for its full visiting guide — entrance fees, best time to visit, how to get there and travel tips. Or browse all 7 Wonders of the World.

⚡ Electrical Standards

North Korea operates on 230V / 50Hz with Type C/F socket. Verify device voltage compatibility before travel — using a 110V appliance on a 220–240V supply permanently damages equipment. Pack the correct plug adapter for North Korea and where voltage differs, a step-down voltage converter. Critical pre-travel check for electronics importers, corporate travellers, expats and supply chain teams shipping or operating equipment in North Korea.

StandardDetail
⚡ Voltage230 V
🔄 Frequency50 Hz
🔌 Plug Types
CType C: Two round pins (Europlug)
FType F: Two round pins + grounding clips (Schuko)
📊 Quick Facts
👥 Population Rank#56 of 249
📏 Area World Rank#100
🏙️ Population Density220.3 / km²
🌊 Land / Water Split100.0% / 0.0%
🏟 National Symbols of North Korea
🦁 National Animal
Chollima
Mythic
🦅 National Bird
Northern goshawk
Accipiter gentilis
🌺 National Flower
Magnolia
Magnolia sieboldii
🌳 National Tree
Pine
Pinus
💡 Emblem Story
Motto: "Democratic People's Republic of Korea"
See full national symbols →
Countries By Alphabets

✈️ Complete Travel Intelligence Guide for North Korea

⚡ Electrical Standards & Power Compatibility

Corporate travellers and electronics importers must verify voltage compatibility and plug type before visiting or shipping devices to North Korea. Using a 110V device on a 230V supply permanently damages equipment. Pack a universal travel adapter and a step-down voltage converter when needed. North Korea's electrical infrastructure follows international IEC standards. Plug types range from Type A (North America) to Type G (UK) — the correct adapter eliminates power compatibility issues across all device categories.

🚨 Emergency Services & Safety Preparedness

Store North Korea's police, ambulance and fire brigade numbers in your phone before arrival. In urgent situations, dialling the wrong number costs critical response minutes. Many countries have adopted universal emergency numbers (112 or 911) while others maintain separate dedicated lines for each service. Expatriates, logistics teams and field workers operating in North Korea should brief staff on local emergency protocols as part of operational risk management and business continuity planning.

🚗 Driving Rules, Road Safety & IDP Requirements

Roughly 35% of countries worldwide drive on the left — a direct result of British colonial infrastructure. Visitors and corporate fleet operators in North Korea must confirm the local driving side, road sign conventions, speed limits and International Driving Permit (IDP) requirements. Steering wheel position reflects road side — left-side driving countries use right-hand drive vehicles. Fleet managers dispatching vehicles across borders need this data for driver safety briefings and insurance compliance.

📊 Human Development Index (HDI) Explained

The HDI is a composite 0–1 score published annually by the UNDP, combining life expectancy at birth, mean years of schooling and gross national income per capita. Scores above 0.800 = Very High Development; 0.700–0.799 = High; 0.550–0.699 = Medium; below 0.550 = Low. Market analysts and strategic planners use HDI to evaluate workforce quality, consumer spending capacity and operational infrastructure maturity when assessing North Korea as a target market or investment destination.

💊 Healthcare, Life Expectancy & Workforce Planning

Life expectancy reflects the quality of a country's healthcare infrastructure, nutrition standards and public health investment. For HR directors, workforce planners and expatriate managers, high life expectancy indicates a healthy, productive talent pool and lower employee health-risk exposure. Companies relocating staff to North Korea use this metric to benchmark health insurance premiums, medical evacuation policies and employee wellness programmes in line with international corporate standards.

💰 GDP, Unemployment & Economic Intelligence

GDP per capita and unemployment rate are two of the most reliable indicators for evaluating consumer market potential. High GDP per capita = stronger consumer purchasing power and premium pricing viability. High unemployment = lower labour costs but also reduced consumer spending. Combine these with literacy rate data and local currency data to build a complete picture for talent acquisition strategy, retail pricing models, franchise expansion feasibility and market entry risk assessment for North Korea.

📋 How to Use This Travel Intelligence Page

⚡ Before You Travel:Check the plug type and voltage — buy the correct adapter in advance. Save all emergency numbers to your phone. Confirm driving side if you plan to rent a vehicle or operate a company fleet.
📊 Market Research Use:Use HDI, GDP per capita and population data to evaluate North Korea as a target market. Cross-reference life expectancy with literacy rate to assess workforce readiness and consumer behaviour patterns.
🌍 Operational Planning:Logistics teams and field operators use dialing code, time zone and internet domain data to configure VoIP systems, ERP settings and communication tools for seamless cross-border operations in North Korea.

🔎 Related State & Country Tools

🗺 North Korea MapView the North Korea satellite map with precise GPS coordinates and boundaries.
💰 Currency of North KoreaCheck the official currency profile and live forex exchange rates.
📍 States & ProvincesExplore states and provinces of North Korea with coordinates and population data.