Ultimate North Korea Travel Guide: Tips, Itineraries & Must-See Attractions for 2025

North Korea is open to foreign tourists in areas such as Pyongyang, Nampo, and Kaesong. Foreign visitors can travel to North Korea by joining tour groups or applying for a visa at North Korean embassies or consulates in China. Below are some travel tips for visiting North Korea:

• **Visa Application**:
– **Group Tourist Visa**: For group tours, visa materials must be submitted through a travel agency. Individuals cannot apply directly at North Korean embassies or consulates in China. Most agencies require applicants to register and submit visa materials at least 15 days in advance.

– **Individual Tourist Visa**: According to bilateral agreements, holders of Chinese diplomatic, official, or service passports are exempt from visas but must be invited by a North Korean host organization. Holders of Chinese private passports must obtain a visa from a North Korean diplomatic or consular mission abroad before entry.

• **Entry Requirements**:
– Fill out an immigration card upon entry.
– Do not carry flags or items featuring symbols of South Korea or the United States.
– Camera lenses must not exceed 200mm.
– Electronic devices with GPS functionality are prohibited. Smartphones, tablets, DSLR cameras, and smartwatches without “GPS” markings are allowed.

• **Cultural Taboos**:
– Cameras, camcorders, MP3 players, and binoculars are permitted, but newspapers and magazines are not. Items displaying flags or emblems of the U.S. or South Korea are prohibited.
– Avoid using the term “South Korea”; instead, say “South Chosun.” Maps in rooms depict the entire Korean Peninsula as one country, with Pyongyang as the capital.

South Korean-made items are not allowed.
– When visiting statues or portraits of North Korean leaders, do not imitate their poses, sit for photos, or make critical remarks. Avoid commenting on North Korea’s economic conditions. Visitors are always accompanied by North Korean guides.
– Photography in markets or of military personnel is forbidden.

Avoid capturing images that may be deemed “negative,” such as trash or poorly dressed individuals.

• **Tourist Areas**: Pyongyang, Nampo, Kaesong, etc.

North Korea’s visa policies and entry regulations may change. Before planning a trip, consult the latest requirements with North Korean embassies, consulates, or travel agencies and prepare the necessary documents accordingly.