World Guide

North Korea

Country · Asia, Eastern Asia

Rungrado 1st of May Stadium
Pictured: Rungrado 1st of May Stadium · Photo: Nicor; derivative work: Hic et nunc, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

North Korea is a country in Eastern Asia with an area of 120,540 square kilometers and a population of about 27 million. Its capital is Pyongyang, and it offers travellers a selection of sights and cultural landmarks across its cities.

Highlights

The site covers 12 top sights across cities including Pyongyang and Kaesong. Key urban landmarks in the capital include Kim Il Sung Square, the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, the Ryugyong Hotel, Juche Tower, Arch of Triumph, and the Mansudae Grand Monument. Other notable locations are Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the Kaesong Industrial Region, Mount Kumgang, Tomb of King Tongmyong, Goguryeo tombs, and the Mausoleum of King Kongmin.

Food and drink

Local dishes to try include Naengmyeon, Pyeonsu, and Injo-gogi-bap.

When to go

This is the capital's weather. January brings daily highs of -2 °C and lows of -11 °C with 11 mm of rain across 3 days. February sees highs of 2 °C and lows of -7 °C with 12 mm of rain. March reaches highs of 9 °C and lows of -2 °C with 25 mm of rain. April has highs of 16 °C and lows of 5 °C with 47 mm of rain. May warms to highs of 22 °C and lows of 11 °C with 76 mm of rain. June features highs of 27 °C and lows of 17 °C with 84 mm of rain. July and August are the warmest months with highs of 28 °C and lows of 21 °C, experiencing heavy rain of 272 mm over 17 days in July and 207 mm over 18 days in August. September cools to highs of 24 °C and lows of 15 °C with 106 mm of rain. October brings highs of 18 °C and lows of 8 °C with 43 mm of rain. November records highs of 9 °C and lows of 0 °C with 36 mm of rain. December drops to highs of 2 °C and lows of -7 °C with 14 mm of rain.

Practical notes

The currency is the North Korean won. Languages spoken are Korean and North Korean standard language. Plugs used are types A, C, and F with a voltage of 220 V. Driving is on the right side of the road, and the time zone is UTC+09:00.

Cities

Food and drink to try in North Korea

  • Naengmyeon
  • Pyeonsu
  • Injo-gogi-bap

Top sights in North Korea

  1. Rungrado 1st of May StadiumRungrado 1st of May StadiumPyongyang
  2. Ryugyong HotelRyugyong HotelPyongyang
  3. Kumsusan Palace of the SunKumsusan Palace of the SunPyongyang
  4. Juche TowerJuche TowerPyongyang
  5. Arch of TriumphArch of TriumphPyongyang
  6. Kaesong Industrial RegionKaesong Industrial RegionKaesong
  7. Mount KumgangUNESCOMount KumgangHaenam
  8. Mansudae Grand MonumentMansudae Grand MonumentPyongyang
  9. Tomb of King TongmyongUNESCOTomb of King Tongmyong
  10. Kim Il Sung SquareKim Il Sung SquarePyongyang
  11. Goguryeo tombsUNESCOGoguryeo tombs
  12. Mausoleum of King KongminMausoleum of King KongminKaesong

UNESCO sites in North Korea →

Weather by month

The warmest month is August, with an average high of 28 °C. The wettest is July, with about 272 mm of rain.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average high, °C-1291722272828241892
Average low, °C-11-7-25111721211580-7
Rainfall, mm111225477684272207106433614
Rainy days3336811171811774

Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Pyongyang (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.

Also worth a look

Neighbouring countries and territories