Quick Summary
An International Driving Permit has no practical use for a trip to North Korea (DPRK), for two separate reasons. First, as of July 2026, North Korea remains closed to international tourism for almost every nationality, with Russian nationals the sole confirmed exception under limited, tightly managed arrangements. Second, even during the years when tourism was fully open, foreign tourists were never permitted to drive independently - all transport is provided by state-assigned guides and drivers throughout an organised tour. This guide explains both the current entry situation and why self-driving has never been part of a North Korea tourist itinerary, so you know exactly what to expect if and when travel becomes possible for your nationality.
At a Glance
| Tourism Status (as of July 2026) | Closed to almost all nationalities; Russian nationals are the confirmed exception |
|---|---|
| Can Tourists Drive? | No - all transport is provided by state-assigned guides and drivers |
| IDP Relevant? | No practical function - tourists do not drive, with or without one |
| Driving Side (for context) | Right |
| Foreign Residents/Diplomats | Can import and drive their own vehicles under separate rules |
| Independent Travel | Not permitted - all visitors must stay with an assigned guide at all times |
Key Takeaways
- North Korea's border has been effectively closed to most foreign tourism since January 2020, with only brief, narrow reopenings since - check current status before making any plans, since this changes with little notice.
- As of July 2026, Russian nationals are the only tourists being regularly admitted, under specific bilateral arrangements - all other nationalities, including US, UK, Canadian, Australian, and most EU citizens, remain unable to visit as ordinary tourists.
- Even in years when tourism was fully open, independent self-driving was never available to foreign tourists - all transport is arranged and provided by state tour guides.
- An International Driving Permit is therefore not a relevant document for a North Korea tourist trip, regardless of your nationality or the country's current entry status.
- Foreign residents (diplomats, some long-term expatriate staff) operate under an entirely separate regime that does allow importing and driving a personal vehicle.
- This is one of the most rapidly changing travel situations covered anywhere in this guide series - always verify current status with your own government's travel advisory immediately before finalising any plans.
North Korea Travel & Driving Guide: Current Entry Status and Why Tourists Don't Drive
Entry and travel policy for North Korea (the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK) is controlled entirely by the North Korean government and administered for foreign visitors through a small number of state-owned tourism bureaus, including the Korea International Travel Company. There is no independent tourism industry inside North Korea in the way most other countries in this guide series have - every foreign visitor's itinerary, transport, and guide arrangements are organised through one of these state bodies or an authorised international tour partner working with them. This structure is the single most important thing to understand before anything else in this guide, since it shapes every other answer below.
1. Is North Korea Open to Tourists Right Now?
As of July 2026, North Korea remains closed to international tourism for almost every nationality. Since closing its borders in January 2020 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, North Korea has maintained the tightest and longest-running border closure of any country in the world, and reopening has been slow, narrow, and frequently reversed.
Russian nationals are currently the only confirmed group being admitted for regular tourism, under specific bilateral arrangements since February 2024, with a limited number of organised Russian tour groups visiting each year. A brief window in February-March 2025 opened the Rason Special Economic Zone (in the far northeast, bordering China and Russia) to tourists of most other nationalities, excluding Japanese, South Korean, and US citizens - but this was suspended again on 5 March 2025 with no explanation, and has not reopened since. Small, specifically invited delegations (sporting events, humanitarian visits, official guests) have occurred periodically, but these are not equivalent to general tourist access and are not something an independent traveller can arrange.
U.S. citizens face an additional, separate restriction: since 2017, the US Department of State has banned the use of US passports for travel to North Korea, a restriction periodically renewed and currently extended through August 2026. This is distinct from North Korea's own entry policy and applies regardless of whether North Korea itself would otherwise admit a US traveller.
1a. Timeline: Reopening Attempts Since 2020
Understanding how unpredictable this situation has been helps explain why any single "North Korea is reopening" headline should be treated cautiously rather than as a green light to book travel.
- January 2020: North Korea closes its borders to foreign tourists in response to Covid-19, among the first countries in the world to do so.
- July 2023: Russian and Chinese delegations become the first known foreign groups invited since the closure, attending Korean War armistice anniversary events in Pyongyang - not general tourism.
- January-February 2024: The first organised Russian tourist group (around 100 visitors) travels to the Masikryong ski resort, marking the first genuine tourism since the closure.
- February-March 2025: The Rason Special Economic Zone briefly opens to tourists of most nationalities (excluding Japan, South Korea, and the US) for roughly three weeks, before an unexplained suspension on 5 March 2025.
- April 2025: Foreign amateur runners are invited to the Pyongyang Marathon for the first time in six years, via official delegation arrangements rather than general tourism.
- June 2025: The large-scale Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone is officially inaugurated, though it remains open only to domestic tourists and a very small number of foreign visitors under strict conditions.
- March 2026: The Beijing-Pyongyang passenger train resumes after a six-year hiatus, and Air China announces resumed weekly flights - transport links improving, though this does not itself signal a tourism reopening for most nationalities.
- March 2026: The planned 2026 Pyongyang International Marathon is abruptly cancelled with no explanation given, underscoring how quickly plans can reverse.
The pattern across this timeline is consistent: transport links and narrow, specific openings have gradually increased, but each step forward has been matched by sudden reversals or continued exclusion of most nationalities - there is no steady, predictable trajectory toward full reopening as of mid-2026.
2. Why Foreign Tourists Cannot Drive in North Korea
Even during the years when North Korea welcomed substantial international tourism (before 2020, when up to 350,000 Chinese visitors alone came in a single year, alongside a smaller number from Western countries), foreign tourists were never permitted to drive independently. Official government travel advisories are consistent and explicit on this point: foreigners are not allowed to drive, and all transportation is provided by government-assigned tour guides and drivers throughout the visit.
This isn't a documentation issue that an IDP, a local licence, or any other paperwork can resolve - it's a structural feature of how North Korea manages all foreign visitors. Tourists travel exclusively within pre-arranged itineraries, accompanied by state-assigned guides at all times, and straying from the arranged program, including attempting to arrange your own transport, is not permitted under any circumstance. This is precisely why Driving International Association (DIA) does not offer an IDP product for North Korea: there is no scenario in which a tourist would use one, regardless of the country's current entry status.
This places North Korea in a genuinely distinct category even compared to China, the only other country in this guide series without standard IDP recognition. In China, foreign visitors can legally self-drive using China's own Temporary Driving Permit. In North Korea, the restriction isn't about which document is recognised - it's that independent tourist driving isn't offered as an option at all, regardless of documentation.
3. What Transport Actually Looks Like on a North Korea Tour
When tourism is operating, visitors are transported by bus or car with a state-provided driver, accompanied by one or more official government guides for the entire visit. Major highways connecting Pyongyang to other permitted destinations are generally reported to be in good condition, while rural roads can be considerably rougher.
Itineraries are fixed in advance through the tour operator and North Korean authorities jointly, and typically cover a small set of approved destinations - historically Pyongyang and, when politically permitted, sites like Mount Kumgang or the Rason Special Economic Zone. Straying from designated tourist areas, taking photographs outside approved locations, or attempting unauthorised interactions with local people are all treated as serious matters by North Korean authorities, not minor rule-bending. Group tours typically move together by coach between sites, with private cars generally reserved for smaller delegations or specific arrangements agreed in advance with the tour operator.
4. Foreign Residents & Diplomatic Staff: A Separate Regime
Foreigners who live in North Korea long-term - primarily diplomatic staff and a small number of long-term resident personnel - operate under an entirely different set of rules from tourists. Long-term foreign residents are permitted to import and drive their own vehicles, or drive North Korean-registered vehicles, subject to North Korean licensing and registration requirements specific to residents.
This distinction matters for search accuracy: a search for "can foreigners drive in North Korea" technically has two different correct answers depending on whether the person means a tourist (no) or a long-term foreign resident such as a diplomat (yes, under separate arrangements). This guide focuses on the tourist scenario, since that's the relevant case for the vast majority of people researching an IDP for North Korea.
5. General Road & Driving Facts (For Context)
Although tourists won't personally drive, understanding the basic road environment is useful background if you're researching North Korea more broadly.
- Driving side: right, with the steering wheel on the left.
- Speed limits: reported around 40 km/h in urban areas, 60 km/h on rural roads, and up to 80 km/h on motorways for passenger vehicles, with lower limits for trucks and heavier vehicles.
- Blood alcohol limit: effectively zero-tolerance; North Korea's drink-driving penalties are reported to be severe, including potential imprisonment.
- Road conditions: major highways connecting Pyongyang to other cities are generally described as being in good condition, while rural roads can be considerably rougher and less predictable.
- Checkpoints: police and military checkpoints are common throughout the country, and identification may be requested at any time - relevant context for the guides and drivers managing your itinerary, even though you won't personally be asked to produce a driving licence.
6. Entry & Visa Requirements (When Tourism Is Available)
When North Korea tourism is operating for a given nationality, entry requires a visa arranged in advance through a North Korean diplomatic mission in a third country, generally only after your tour itinerary has been approved by North Korean authorities via your tour operator. This process can be slow and is entirely dependent on your specific nationality's current eligibility, which - as covered in Section 1 - changes with little notice.
Journalists require special permission and generally cannot enter on an ordinary tourist visa even for personal travel. Dual citizenship is not recognised by North Korea; if authorities consider a visitor a North Korean citizen for any reason, standard foreign consular protections may not apply.
7. Emergency Contacts & Practical Safety Notes
Emergency response and medical treatment inside North Korea are extremely limited by international standards, and most government travel advisories recommend comprehensive medical evacuation insurance as essential, not optional, for any visit. Evacuation typically requires transit through China, and even in a genuine emergency this can take several days to arrange, since direct evacuation to South Korea is not possible.
Diplomatic representation for many Western nationalities is extremely limited or absent inside North Korea; several countries, including the United States, rely on the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang for consular assistance in an emergency. Confirm which country represents your interests before travelling, since this varies and matters considerably if you need help.
- Current tourism eligibility for your specific nationality (changes frequently)
- Your own government's current travel advisory and any legal restrictions on travel there (e.g., the US passport restriction)
- That you are booking through an established, experienced DPRK tour operator, not an informal or unverified arrangement
- Comprehensive medical evacuation insurance, given extremely limited in-country medical care
- Which country's embassy provides consular assistance for your nationality inside North Korea
8. Frequently Asked Questions
Current Entry Status
1. Is North Korea open to tourists right now? As of July 2026, it remains closed to almost all nationalities, with Russian nationals the confirmed exception under limited arrangements.
2. Can US citizens visit North Korea? No - beyond North Korea's own entry restrictions, the US Department of State separately bans the use of US passports for travel there, a restriction periodically renewed and currently extended through August 2026.
3. Can UK, Canadian, or Australian citizens visit North Korea? Not currently as ordinary tourists - these nationalities are not part of the limited group currently being admitted.
4. Did North Korea fully reopen after Covid? No - despite some limited developments (resumed flights, a brief Rason opening in 2025, occasional invited delegations), general tourism has not resumed for most nationalities.
5. Will North Korea reopen to all nationalities soon? There is no confirmed timeline. The situation has reversed multiple times already, so treat any specific reopening prediction with caution.
6. How can I check the current status before planning a trip? Check your own government's official travel advisory and consult an established, experienced North Korea tour operator directly, since this changes faster than most general travel content can track.
7. Did the Rason Special Economic Zone reopening in 2025 mean North Korea was open again? No - it was a brief, narrow exception for one specific zone that closed again within weeks and has not reopened since.
8. Are flights between China and North Korea running? Yes, limited routes have resumed, including Air China and Air Koryo services, though this reflects transport link recovery, not general tourism reopening.
Driving & IDP
9. Can I drive in North Korea as a tourist? No - foreign tourists are not permitted to drive independently under any circumstance; all transport is provided by state-assigned guides and drivers.
10. Do I need an International Driving Permit for North Korea? No - since tourists don't drive at all, an IDP has no practical function here.
11. Why doesn't Driving International Association (DIA) offer an IDP for North Korea? Because there's no scenario in which a tourist would use one - selling one would serve no genuine purpose.
12. Has anyone ever driven themselves as a tourist in North Korea? Some informal accounts describe rare, highly unusual exceptions, but this is not a real, repeatable pathway available to ordinary tourists and should not be assumed possible.
13. Can foreign residents or diplomats drive in North Korea? Yes, under a separate regime that permits importing and driving a personal vehicle, distinct from the rules covering short-term tourists.
14. Which side of the road does North Korea drive on? The right, for general context, though this isn't something a tourist needs to act on personally.
15. How is North Korea different from China's IDP situation? China doesn't recognise an IDP either, but foreign tourists can still legally self-drive there using China's own Temporary Driving Permit - North Korea simply doesn't offer independent tourist driving as an option at all.
16. What's the blood alcohol limit in North Korea? Reported as effectively zero-tolerance, with severe penalties, though this is relevant mainly to your driver and guide, not to you personally as a tourist.
What Travel Actually Involves
17. Can I travel independently in North Korea? No - all visitors must remain with an assigned government guide throughout their visit; independent travel is not permitted.
18. Can I choose where I go within North Korea? No - itineraries are fixed in advance jointly by your tour operator and North Korean authorities, covering a limited set of approved destinations.
19. Can I take photographs anywhere I like? No - photography outside approved tourist sites is treated as a serious matter, not a minor rule.
20. Do I need a specialist tour operator? Yes - an established operator with a genuine track record of running DPRK tours is essential, given how tightly controlled and specific the arrangements are.
Entry & Documentation
21. How do I get a visa for North Korea? Through a North Korean diplomatic mission in a third country, generally only after your tour itinerary is approved by North Korean authorities via your tour operator.
22. Can journalists visit North Korea on a tourist visa? No - journalists require special permission and generally cannot enter on an ordinary tourist visa, even for personal travel.
23. Does North Korea recognise dual citizenship? No - if authorities consider a visitor a North Korean citizen for any reason, standard foreign consular protections may not apply.
Safety & Emergencies
24. Is medical care available to tourists in North Korea? Emergency response and medical treatment are extremely limited by international standards; comprehensive medical evacuation insurance is considered essential.
25. How would a medical evacuation work? Typically via transit through China, which can take several days to arrange even in a genuine emergency; direct evacuation to South Korea is not possible.
26. Which embassy helps my nationality in an emergency? This varies - several countries, including the United States, rely on Sweden's embassy in Pyongyang for consular assistance, since their own countries lack a diplomatic presence there.
27. Can I bring a phone or camera into North Korea? Generally yes, though devices may be inspected, and internet access remains unavailable to almost all tourists throughout their stay.
28. Are North Korean tour guides always present with visitors? Yes, tourists are accompanied by state-assigned guides for the duration of any permitted visit, without independent movement.
29. Could North Korea's tourism policy change again before I travel? Yes, genuinely - entry policy has shifted multiple times in recent years, so confirm current status close to any planned travel date rather than relying on older information.
30. Is it legal for US citizens to visit North Korea in any circumstance? US passport restrictions remain in place with only narrow exceptions requiring special validation, extended through much of 2026.
31. Does DIA recommend any driving documentation for North Korea? No - given tourists cannot drive under any circumstance, an IDP has no practical application here regardless of format or convention.
9. Related Guides & Next Steps
If you're researching North Korea as part of a broader Northeast Asia itinerary, the practical reality is that self-driving simply isn't part of any North Korea trip, current or historical - your planning energy is better spent on the legs of your itinerary where it genuinely applies. Read our China Complete Country Guide if your trip includes mainland China, where self-driving is possible via China's own Temporary Driving Permit, or our Hong Kong Complete Country Guide and other destinations in this series where a standard Driving International Association (DIA) IDP is the right document. For the full picture of how IDPs work worldwide, see our flagship International Driving Permit guide, and browse more answers on our FAQ page. For current entry status, see official travel advisories from your home government, such as the US Department of State or UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
Planning a wider Asia trip? Apply for your Driving International Association (DIA) International Driving Permit for the destinations on your itinerary where self-driving is genuinely possible.