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The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (North Korea or DPRK) is a highly centralized Communist state. Tourist facilities are not widely available. Tourism in North Korea is permitted only in officially organized groups authorized by the Government of North Korea. Independent tourism is not permitted.
Telephone and other communications are limited. In recent years, North Korea has experienced lower crop production, which has resulted in serious shortages of food and other supplies. A broad spectrum of countries, including the United States, has contributed to international relief efforts.
INTERIM CONSULAR PROTECTING POWER: The United States does not maintain diplomatic, consular, or trade relations with North Korea. Consequently, the U.S. Government is not in a position to accord normal consular protective services to U.S. citizens in North Korea. Negotiations are ongoing to implement a provision of the 1994 Agreed Framework between the U.S. and North Korea for an exchange of diplomatic missions, but it is uncertain when they may be completed. On September 20, 1995, a consular protecting power arrangement was implemented, allowing for consular protection by the Swedish Embassy of U.S. citizens traveling in North Korea. In this capacity, the Swedish Embassy endeavors to provide basic consular protective services to U.S. citizens traveling in North Korea who are ill, injured, arrested or who may die.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: U.S. passports are valid for travel to North Korea. Even though DPRK embassies abroad sometimes ask American visa applicants to obtain U.S. Government permission to travel to North Korea as a way of forestalling the visa application, the U.S. Government neither requires nor issues such permission letters. However, U.S. citizens who arrive in North Korea without a U.S. passport and North Korean visa may be detained, arrested, fined or denied entry. The North Korean government does not permit foreigners to visit certain areas of North Korea.
There is no North Korean embassy or consulate in the United States. U.S. citizens and residents wishing to travel to North Korea must obtain North Korean visas in third countries. For information about entry requirements and restricted areas, travelers may consult the North Korean Mission to the United Nations in New York, which may be in a position to provide information. Address all such inquiries to the Permanent Representative of the Democratic People?s Republic of Korea to the United Nations, 820 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10017, tel: (212) 972-3105; fax: (212) 972-3154. Otherwise, consult a North Korean embassy or consulate in a country which maintains relations with North Korea.
Most U.S. citizens traveling to North Korea obtain their visas at the North Korean Embassy in Beijing, China. Such visas are not issued by the North Korean Embassy in Beijing, even to a person with a written invitation from a North Korean host organization, unless the Embassy has been instructed to do so by the North Korean Foreign Office in Pyongyang, the capital. Travelers may wish to check with the North Korean Mission to the United Nations or the North Korean host organization to make sure that the host organization has arranged for issuance of a visa through the Foreign Office and that a visa is ready in Beijing. Questions may be addressed to the North Korean Embassy in Beijing at telephone: (86)(10) 6532-1186 or 1189; Fax: (86)(10) 6532-6056; Visa Section: (86)(10) 6532-4148 or 6639.
EMBASSY LOCATION AND REGISTRATION: There is no U.S. embassy or consulate in North Korea. The Embassy of Sweden, which acts as U.S. Protecting Power, is located at: Munsu-Dong District, Pyongyang. The telephone and fax numbers, which are frequently out of order due to poor telecommunications in the DPRK, are: Tel: (850-2) 381-7908; Fax: (850-2) 381-7258. U.S. citizens contemplating living in or visiting North Korea are encouraged to register in person, by telephone or fax with the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China and to obtain updated information on travel and security within North Korea. The consular section of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing is located at 2 Xiu Shui Dong Jie, Beijing - 100600; telephone: (86-10) 6532-3431 or (86-10) 6532-3831; after hours: (86-10) 6532-1910; fax: (86-10) 6532-4153. It is also possible to register from the United States via the Internet through the U.S. Embassy?s home page at http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn. |
