Who is eligible to visit the DPRK?

Statues of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang. [Photo by Ke Haitian/For China Daily]

With the exception of people from the Republic of Korea, citizens of most countries can travel to the DPRK at any time of the year, providing they are registered with an accredited tourist operator, and have the relevant visa. Non-US citizens can travel to the DPRK by plane or by train, but US citizens may only enter the country by plane.

How to apply for a DPRK visa

The DPRK does not accept individual visa applications, so visitors have to apply for a guided tour via accredited travel agencies.

"Foreigners have to fill in an online application form, which requires basic information from the ID page of their passport, a passport-style photo, and a letter from their employer. Once we have those things, we will apply for the visa. All prospective visitors to the DPRK have to do is decide when to make their trip and arrange their flights to China. There are both independent, personalized tours and group tours," said Sabrina Wang from Explore North Korea.

"Usually the peak seasons lasts from mid April (especially April 15, Kim Il-sung's birthday), to the end of October. But if visitors want a budget tour, they can book a reservation during winter."

To visit the DPRK, non-Chinese tourists will require a double entry visa for China. The only exception to this rule is if you fly to the DPRK from Beijing or Shenyang, when you can take advantage of a 72-hour visa-free policy, which allows tourists to enter Beijing or Shenyang and stay within 72 hours, provided they have a visa and plane tickets for a third country.

What can you take along: At the start of 2013, the DPRK authorities relaxed some of the rules for visitors, allowing travelers taking their mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and SLR cameras into the country. Binoculars are forbidden, however.

SIM cards: It's possible to buy a SIM card upon arrival at the Koryolink booth at Pyongyang airport, but they are very expensive. A SIM card can cost as much as 100 euros ($137). SIM cards for foreigners can only make and receive international calls, or call any other foreigner in the DPRK. Locals use a separate network. Also, many tourists make international calls by using the telephone booths in hotels.