Capital city, North Korea
Is Pyongyang safe?
No street crime, but the state is the risk: arbitrary detention, no consular access and sudden tour closures.
Is Pyongyang safe?
No street crime, but the state is the risk: arbitrary detention, no consular access and sudden tour closures. Visit only with an approved agency, if tours run at all.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 2/5, high risk.
- Road deaths in North Korea: 24.2 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
Safety in Pyongyang at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 2/5 · High risk |
| Crime | Street crime against visitors is virtually unknown; foreigners are always escorted. The danger is political, not criminal. |
| At night | Visitors cannot leave the hotel unescorted at night; the city is dim after dark. |
| Solo women | No street harassment, and you are always accompanied. Risks come from the political system, not personal safety. |
| Other risks | Arbitrary detention, with no consular access; Sudden tour cancellations or border closures; Limited medical care for visitors |
Scams, areas and local laws
Take care
- Photography: ask guides first; never photograph soldiers or military sites
- Leader statues and images: show respect, never damage or fold them
Laws visitors break by accident
- Never fold, damage or casually photograph images of the leaders.
- Photograph only with your guide's permission, never soldiers or military sites.
- Insulting or joking about the leadership or political system is a serious crime.
Quick answers
Is Pyongyang safe for solo female travelers?
No street harassment, and you are always accompanied. Risks come from the political system, not personal safety.
Is Pyongyang safe at night?
Visitors cannot leave the hotel unescorted at night; the city is dim after dark.
What is the crime rate in Pyongyang?
Street crime against visitors is virtually unknown; foreigners are always escorted. The danger is political, not criminal.
More about Pyongyang
Going to Pyongyang solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Pyongyang meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- UK FCDO travel advice: North Korea
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.