North Korea
Asia · Eastern Asia
Overview
North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, lies in East Asia on the northern part of the Korean Peninsula, bordered by China and Russia, with South Korea to the south, separated by the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Following the division of the peninsula in 1945 and the Korean War of 1950-1953, the country technically remains in a state of armistice rather than a formal peace treaty with South Korea to this day. The country has been a one-party socialist state since 1948, led by three generations of the Kim family. The official language is Korean, and tourism is strictly regulated, possible only through authorized travel agencies with a constant local guide.
Pyongyang, the capital, with its monumental socialist architecture, including the monuments on Kim Il Sung Square and the Juche Tower, built to commemorate the country's guiding ideology, serves as the state's political and symbolic center. The bronze statues on Mansu Hill, depicting Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, are a defining feature of the cityscape, where visitors are expected to show respectful behavior, including bowing. The Pyongyang Metro, which also functions as a bomb shelter, runs deep underground and is itself considered a tourist attraction for its ornate, Soviet-style stations. The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the heavily guarded strip dividing the Korean Peninsula, can be visited from both sides and stands as a tangible reminder of Cold War division.
Mount Paektu, with a crater lake at its summit, is regarded in Korean national mythology as the symbolic birthplace of the Korean people and plays a central role in the official propaganda of the Kim dynasty. The Kumgang Mountains, with their striking rock peaks and waterfalls, were previously open to South Korean tourists, though this program was suspended in 2008 following an incident. Tourist visits take place almost exclusively in organized groups along predetermined routes, with independent travel not permitted. Local cuisine is built on Korean staples, with naengmyeon, a cold noodle soup, a specialty of Pyongyang, and kimchi as a foundational element of cuisine across the Korean Peninsula.
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UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Browse all UNESCO sites →Complex of Koguryo Tombs
The property includes several group and individual tombs - totalling about 30 individual tombs - from the later period of the Koguryo Kingdom, one of the strongest kingdoms in nowadays northeast China and half of the Korean peninsula between the 3rd century BC to 7th century AD. The tombs, many with beautiful wall paintings, are almost the only remains of this culture. Only about 90 out of more than 10,000 Koguryo tombs discovered in China and Korea so far, have wall paintings. Almost half of these tombs are located on this site and they are thought to have been made for the burial of kings, members of the royal family and the aristocracy. These paintings offer a unique testimony to daily life of this period.
Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong
Situated in Kaesong city, in the south of the country, the site consists of 12 separate components, which together testify to the history and culture of the Koryo Dynasty from the 10th to 14th centuries. The geomantic layout of the former capital city of Kaesong, its palaces, institutions and tomb complex, defensive walls and gates embody the political, cultural, philosophical and spiritual values of a crucial era in the region’s history. The monuments inscribed also include an astronomical and meteorological observatory, two schools (including one dedicated to educating national officials) and commemorative steles. The site testifies to the transition from Buddhism to neo-Confucianism in East Asia and to the assimilation of the cultural spiritual and political values of the states that existed prior to Korea’s unification under the Koryo Dynasty. The integration of Buddhist, Confucian, Taoist and geomantic concepts is manifest in the planning of the site and the architecture of its monuments.
Mount Kumgang – Diamond Mountain from the Sea
Mount Kumgang is a long-celebrated place of exceptional natural beauty, renowned for its near-white granite peaks, deep valleys, waterfalls, and pristine ecosystems, rising to nearly 1,600 metres. The mountain’s dramatic impact is enhanced through constantly changing weather patterns of mists, rain, sunshine and clouds. This sacred mountain is a key site of mountain Buddhism, with traditions dating back to the 5th century. This cultural landscape is home to ancient hermitages, temples, stupas, and stone carvings, many located in the Outer and Inner Kumgang Area. Three temples remain active today and bear exceptional testimony to centuries of Buddhist practice, with tangible and intangible heritage deeply intertwined with the landscape.
Data: UNESCO WHC · CC BY-SA 4.0
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of North Korea?
The capital of North Korea is Pyongyang.
What is the area of North Korea?
The area of North Korea is 120,538 km².
What is the population of North Korea?
The population of North Korea is 26,498,823.
What is the currency of North Korea?
The currency of North Korea is North Korean won (KPW).
What is the official language of North Korea?
The official language of North Korea: Korean.
What side of the road does North Korea drive on?
North Korea: Right-hand traffic.
Is North Korea a member of the United Nations?
Yes, North Korea is a member of the United Nations.