The most updated information on travel to North Korea (Rason) for 2025, from the experts on the ground!
Your North Korea travel FAQs, answered with the most up-to-date information!
After five years, we finally returned to North Korea (Rason) on February 13, 2025.
Rason, North Korea, is officially reopening on 20 February 2025, and Koryo Tours is proud to lead the first group of Western tourists into the country in over five years.
Since our visit, we've received a flood of questions from curious travellers, and today, we’re here to answer them.
As experts in North Korea travel, we’ve compiled the most frequently asked questions to provide you with the most up-to-date and reliable information. All in one place.
Let's get started!
Is Tourism to North Korea Open Now?
Can I travel to Pyongyang?
Is the Pyongyang Marathon 2025 happening?
Can I Visit North Korea with (insert a country) passport?
Can Americans Travel to North Korea?
Is it Safe to Visit North Korea?
If I Have a South Korean Stamp or Visa in my Passport Can I Visit North Korea?
Will I Get a North Korean Passport Stamp?
Do I need a Chinese Visa (in order to visit Rason, North Korea)?
Is there WiFi in North Korea?
Is Weed Legal in North Korea?
Is Tourism to North Korea Open Now?
Not yet.
North Korea has not yet fully reopened for tourism, with Rason currently being the only region accessible to visitors.
Rason is a special economic zone in the northeast corner of the DPRK, near the Russian and Chinese borders.
Browse our confirmed and bookable itineraries online and stay tuned for the latest developments.
Read more on Rason Travel Guide
Rason is opened now, how about Pyongyang?
Koryo Tours is proud to lead the first group of Western tourists into North Korea (Rason) in over five years.
As of now, Rason is the only city expected to open for tourism, while Pyongyang remains closed to visitors.
When Will Pyongyang Reopen?
At this time, there is no confirmed date for Pyongyang’s reopening. We will provide updates as soon as we receive more information.
Read more on Pyongyang Travel Guides
Is the Pyongyang Marathon confirmed to go in 2025?
As of February 2025, Pyongyang remains closed to tourism.
Unfortunately, this means that the Pyongyang International Marathon (scheduled for April 13, 2025) cannot resume until the city officially reopens for visitors or it may happen for just local athletes or invited elite runners. Nobody can say for sure at the moment.
Stay tuned for updates. We’ll share the latest news as soon as travel to Pyongyang becomes possible again!
Read more on Pyongyang Marathon Tours
When it's fully open for tourism, can I Travel to North Korea (with a UK/France/Canada/Brazil/USA/etc passport)?
Surprisingly, yes. You probably can!
Contrary to popular belief, most nationalities can visit North Korea as tourists.
However, there are a few exceptions based on nationality, profession, or home country regulations.
Who Cannot Travel to North Korea?
- South Korean Citizens (ROK): Must obtain approval from both the South Korean and North Korean government (this will simply not happen though, it is a de facto ban from both sides for tourism)
- U.S. Citizens (USA): Legally allowed to visit by the DPRK, but not permitted by the U.S. government without special authorization and this is not something available for the purposes of tourism. US Dual Citizens may use their other passport to travel to North Korea. Read more
- Malaysian Citizens: the Malaysian government issued a travel ban for Malaysian Citizens in late 2017 until further notice. Read more
Are There Restrictions Based on Profession?
- Journalists & Professional Photographers: Cannot enter on a tourist visa without prior approval. Conducting journalism without permission is illegal.
- Military Personnel: Can visit but may require clearance from their commanding officer or HR department.
Read more on 'Can I Travel to North Korea?'
Can Americans Travel to North Korea?
No, American citizens cannot travel to North Korea as tourists at this time (February 2025).
Since September 1, 2017, the U.S. State Department has enforced a travel ban prohibiting all U.S. passport holders from visiting North Korea (DPRK) for tourism.
This restriction is renewed annually on August 31 unless lifted by the U.S. Secretary of State. As of now, the ban remains in effect until further notice.
The US State Department may grant one-time-use special validations for the following activities:
- professional journalism
- officially sponsored Intentional Red Cross or American Red Cross humanitarian missions
- trips justified for compelling humanitarian reasons
- trips otherwise deemed to be in the US national interest.
You can find more information about the application process for special validations here.
Read more on 'Can US Citizens travel to North Korea'
Is it Safe to Visit North Korea?
North Korea has a reputation for being a dangerous place to visit.
However, with the right precautions and a good dose of common sense, it’s no more dangerous than any other travel destination.
The crime rate is very low in North Korea, so you don’t need to be too concerned about theft or pick-pocketing.
The biggest concern people have when visiting North Korea is being arrested for some minor misstep. This will not happen unless you make it happen. It is very difficult to get yourself into serious trouble by accident.
They have some more unique laws that need to be respected such as not criticising the North Korea leaders, proselytisation (promoting religion for the purpose of converting), not spreading imperialist propaganda (e.g. South Korean movies, music, publications, etc.), not taking photos of the military and not wandering around by yourself.
If you are caught committing these crimes at worst you will end up in the North Korean judiciary system, or at best you will cause some minor to major difficulties for your local guides.
If for some reason you feel like it’s going to be an issue for you to abide by the laws, customs & etiquette of North Korea, then you should not visit.
For those that do decide to travel to North Korea then do ensure you are fully briefed before going. Even the most experienced travellers have been caught out by the customs and etiquette of travel in North Korea. Koryo Tours requires everyone to have completed a briefing before travelling to North Korea.
Read more on 'Is it Safe to Travel to North Korea?'
If I Have a South Korean Stamp or Visa in my Passport Can I Visit North Korea?
Yes, you can!
Having a South Korean stamp or visa in your passport is not an issue or problem for visiting the Democratic People's Republic of Korea ('DPRK' or 'North Korea'). The relevant North Korean authorities and travel companies do not care if you have visited South Korea before.
Many travellers choose to see both North and South Korea on the same trip, which can be done by transiting through China or Russia.
There are, however, a number of things you should be aware of if you plan to visit both North and South Korea on the same trip.
Read more on 'South Korean Stamp in Passport'
Will I Get a North Korean Passport Stamp?
You may have seen the recent North Korean passport stamp circulating on social media.
While most travellers to North Korea do not receive a passport stamp, there are a few exceptions.
Rason is one of them.
Rason Special Economic Zone operates under different regulations than the rest of North Korea. Unlike Pyongyang and other regions, Rason does stamp your passport upon entry and exit. For example, when we entered Rason on February 13, 2025, our passports were officially stamped.
Will You Get a North Korean Stamp Elsewhere?
For the rest of North Korea—depends on where the visa is issued
When travelling to Pyongyang or other cities and your visa is issued in China then it is issued on a separate piece of paper, meaning nothing is stamped in your passport.
If you prefer to have a North Korean visa sticker inside your passport, we can apply for you at a North Korean embassy in your home country. However, prices and availability vary by location.
Read more on 'How to get visas to North Korea'
Do I need a Chinese Visa (in order to visit Rason, North Korea)?
Yes, if you need a visa to enter China, you must have a double-entry Chinese visa.
The Chinese Transit Without Visa policy does not apply when visiting Rason as it requires entry and exit to be by international flight. Rason is only accessible by road.
Visa Exemption Policy
Until 31 December 2025, nationals of 38 countries can visit China for tourism, transit, and other purposes for up to 30 days without a visa.
The list of eligible countries is as follows: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea (NB: banned to visit the DPRK by both the ROK and DPRK governments), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia (NB: banned to visit the DPRK by the Malaysian Government), Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland.
Read more on 'China 240 Hour Transit Visa'
Is there WiFi in North Korea?
Yes, but with restrictions.
Very few hotels for international tourists offer WiFi access, and internet use is heavily restricted. The connection is typically slow and basically it is best to presume you will not have any internet access.
Can You Access Social Media?
If you do manage to get access to wiFi or internet, some social media sites may be blocked. This situation is constantly changing.
Alternative Internet Options?
There is a separate domestic intranet system used by North Koreans, but tourists do not have access to it.
Is Weed Legal in North Korea?
No.
Reports regarding the use of marijuana and cannabis culture in North Korea are largely exaggerated.
Hemp is grown in North Korea for industrial purposes and some varieties are used in herbal medicine in rural areas.
The plant can occasionally be seen lining fields as in other parts of Asia.
Read more on 'Is Marijuana Legal in North Korea?'
Still have questions about North Korea? Get in touch with us!
Koryo Tours
Experts in North Korea Travel Since 1993
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