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North Korea country code +850 — call North Korea & get a number.
North Korea (the DPRK) dials on +850, but reaching a domestic number from abroad is practically impossible for most callers — the country runs two entirely separate networks, one for citizens and one for foreign visitors, with no bridge between them. This guide covers the area codes, Koryolink and Kangsong NET mobile networks, the realities of calling restrictions, and why standard dialing to +850 rarely succeeds.
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North Korea at a glance
The numbers and facts you need before you dial.
What is the country code for North Korea?
North Korea's +850 country code exists on the global numbering plan, but reaching a domestic number from abroad is practically impossible for most callers. The country runs two logically separate telephone networks on the same physical infrastructure: one for citizens, who cannot place or receive international calls, and one for foreign visitors, whose SIM cards can dial internationally but cannot reach any domestic North Korean number.
This architectural separation, combined with a domestic-only intranet called Kwangmyong in place of the global internet, makes +850 one of the least-functionally-reachable country codes in the world despite an estimated 6 million or more active mobile subscribers.
For the narrow set of callers with a legitimate path — diplomats, approved foreign businesses, or NGO workers with special permits — understanding these restrictions matters more than the dialing format itself.
Code +850 was assigned to North Korea by the ITU under the E.164 plan. The “+” means “dial your local international exit code”; on a mobile, press and hold 0 to type it.
All four mean the same thing — they connect your call to North Korea.
How to call North Korea from anywhere
The pattern: your exit code + 850 + area code + local number — but be aware that the overwhelming majority of North Korean numbers are not configured to accept inbound international calls at all.
Full example: +850 2 XXXX XXXX for a Pyongyang landline — reachability depends entirely on whether that specific line is one of the small number configured for international traffic.
North Korea phone number format explained
North Korean fixed-line numbers use a 1-digit area code for Pyongyang (2) or 2-digit codes for other cities, followed by 6-8 digits. Mobile numbers use a 3-digit prefix (191/192 for Koryolink, 195 for Kangsong NET) followed by 7 digits.
Domestic calls between area codes are dialed with a leading 0 before the area code. Foreign-visitor SIMs use a separate numbering range that can dial out internationally via the 00 access code, but cannot reach any domestic number.
Landline
+850 2 XXXX XXXX (Pyongyang) — other cities use 2-digit area codes
Mobile
+850 191/192 XXX XXXX (Koryolink) · +850 195 XXX XXXX (Kangsong NET) — domestic subscribers only, no international calling
North Korea area codes — major cities
Drop the local leading 0 when calling from abroad.
| City | Region | Area code |
|---|---|---|
| Pyongyang | Capital | 2 |
| Sinuiju | North Pyongan | 39 |
| Kaesong | North Hwanghae | 49 |
| Nampo | South Pyongan | 24 |
| Wonsan | Kangwon | 69 |
| Hamhung / Chongjin | South / North Hamgyong | 73 |
| Rason | Special Economic Zone | 75 |
| Hyesan | Ryanggang | 79 |
North Korea mobile network prefixes
The prefix after +850 tells you which network issued the SIM — though number portability means it no longer guarantees the operator.
Koryolink
3G (WCDMA) network, a joint venture between Korea Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (KPTC) and Egypt's Orascom; roughly 6 million domestic subscribers with no international calling or global internet access.
Kangsong NET
Fully state-run 4G LTE network launched around 2015, concentrated in Pyongyang; subscriber numbers are not publicly available.
North Korea time zone
North Korea operates on Korea Standard Time (KST), UTC+9, the same as South Korea and Japan, with no daylight saving. Between August 2015 and May 2018 the country used a separate 'Pyongyang Time' at UTC+8:30 before reverting to UTC+9 during a period of inter-Korean diplomatic engagement.
Emergency numbers in North Korea
Free to call from any North Korea phone, landline or mobile.
Common mistakes when calling North Korea
Almost every failed international call is a formatting issue, not a network issue.
Assuming a call to +850 will connect like any other country code
The overwhelming majority of North Korean numbers are not configured to accept inbound international calls. Dialing +850 plus a standard local number will almost certainly fail to connect.
Expecting a foreign-visitor SIM to reach domestic numbers
Foreign-visitor Koryolink SIMs exist on a logically separate numbering plane from domestic subscriber lines — they can call internationally, but cannot reach North Korean citizens' phones at all.
Bringing a satellite phone or GPS device into the DPRK
Satellite phones are prohibited and will be confiscated at customs; GPS-enabled cameras may also be seized.
Assuming messaging apps like WhatsApp will work
Domestic connections in North Korea access only the Kwangmyong intranet, not the global internet, so VoIP and messaging apps that depend on internet access are non-functional inside the country.
Expecting your home mobile carrier to roam in North Korea
There are no international roaming agreements with Koryolink or Kangsong NET — personal phones will not connect to any North Korean network.
Tips to reduce the cost of calling North Korea
Route through an embassy or approved intermediary for legitimate contact
For diplomats, approved businesses, or NGO workers who need to reach someone in North Korea, going through the relevant embassy or a state-approved channel is far more reliable than direct dialing.
Buy a foreign-visitor SIM at Pyongyang airport if traveling
This allows international calls and SMS out of North Korea during an approved visit — but remember it cannot reach any domestic DPRK number.
Don't rely on cheap VoIP or calling-card services
Standard consumer VoIP and international calling cards generally cannot complete calls to +850; the small number of connectable lines route through specialty or Chinese intermediary carriers.
Verify current restrictions before any planned call or visit
North Korea's telecom policy changes without public notice — confirm details through your embassy, tour operator, or a specialist carrier rather than relying on older information.
Why businesses get a North Korea virtual number
Legitimate business contact with North Korean entities is rare and heavily constrained by both the DPRK's telecommunications restrictions and international sanctions regimes. Equipment, financial, and software sanctions from the UN, US, and EU limit network upgrades and make standard interconnection agreements largely nonexistent. Most functional business or diplomatic contact with the DPRK runs through embassies, approved intermediaries, or Chinese-routed channels rather than direct international dialing.
Not a self-service provisioning market
North Korea's dual-network architecture and international sanctions mean +850 numbers are not something MCM can provision on a standard self-service basis — any inquiry is handled case by case.
A regional alternative usually fits the underlying need
Most businesses asking about +850 actually need a reachable presence for Korea-adjacent operations — a South Korea (+82) or China (+86) number typically serves that purpose reliably.
Compliance-aware handling
Any request touching DPRK telecommunications is reviewed against applicable sanctions and export-control regulations before any commitment is made.
Direct access to a specialist team
Rather than a generic checkout flow, requests are routed to a team that can explain what is and isn't possible given current restrictions.
No wasted setup effort
Because domestic North Korean numbers cannot be reached from a provisioned international line regardless of carrier, we tell you upfront rather than selling a number that won't function as expected.
Faster path to a working solution
Where a +850 number isn't viable, we can typically get a working regional number live in minutes once an alternative is agreed.
North Korea virtual numbers with My Country Mobile
North Korea-specific: +850 virtual numbers are severely restricted by the DPRK's dual-network architecture and international sanctions — we do NOT promise +850 provisioning. Contact our team to discuss your use case; in most cases a regional alternative (South Korea +82, China +86) will actually meet the underlying need, since domestic North Korean numbers cannot be reached from any internationally provisioned line regardless of carrier.
Local DIDs in major area codes — provisioned in minutes
Call forwarding to any mobile, landline, SIP endpoint, or softphone worldwide
HD voice with G.711, G.729, Opus & AMR-WB — auto-negotiated per call
Sub-150ms latency on major voice corridors via distributed PoPs
99.99% uptime SLA backed by geo-redundant infrastructure & sub-2s failover
WebRTC support for browser-based calling without softphone installs
REST APIs for provisioning, routing & call detail records (CDRs)
Built-in fraud protection with AI anomaly detection & STIR/SHAKEN
24/7 network monitoring and dedicated support
How to get your North Korea virtual number
Most businesses are live within hours, not days.
Contact our team FIRST — North Korea availability is reviewed case by case given the DPRK's network architecture and sanctions constraints; there is no self-service provisioning.
We'll confirm what, if anything, can be provisioned under applicable regulations, and propose a regional alternative (South Korea +82, China +86) if a +850 number isn't viable for your use case.
Configure routing — point the number at a mobile, SIP trunk, softphone, PBX, or IVR anywhere in the world.
Go live — start receiving calls with your chosen regional caller ID, backed by MCM's 99.99% uptime SLA and compliance-aware call handling.
Other country dialing guides
More country codes worth bookmarking.
Get a North Korea virtual number with MCM
Need to reach a contact in North Korea? Standard dialing is unlikely to succeed. Contact our team to discuss available routing options for +850, or a regional alternative that actually fits your use case.
North Korea +850 — FAQ
Can I call North Korea from my mobile phone?expand_more
You can technically dial +850 plus an area code and number, but the call will almost certainly not connect. Only a small number of government, diplomatic and state-enterprise lines accept inbound international calls.
What happens if I try to call a North Korean mobile number from abroad?expand_more
You'll typically get a network error, a 'number not reachable' message, or silence — domestic Koryolink and Kangsong NET numbers aren't routed to accept incoming international calls.
Can North Koreans call me?expand_more
No. Domestic subscribers cannot place international calls at all — only a small number of specially configured government, embassy, and state-approved lines can dial out internationally.
Can I use my own phone if I visit North Korea?expand_more
Your personal phone won't connect to any North Korean network, as there are no roaming agreements. You may need to surrender it at the airport, or you can purchase a foreign-visitor Koryolink SIM for international calls.
Can I send an SMS to a North Korean number?expand_more
No — the domestic network does not accept inbound international SMS. A foreign-visitor SIM used inside North Korea can send international SMS to numbers outside the DPRK, but not to domestic numbers.
What is Kwangmyong?expand_more
North Korea's domestic-only intranet, entirely separate from the global internet. It provides state-approved content, email within the domestic network, and some entertainment — all mobile and most fixed-line data access Kwangmyong rather than the internet.
Does North Korea have 4G or 5G?expand_more
Kangsong NET runs 4G LTE, mainly in Pyongyang. Koryolink is 3G. There's no 5G service, and international sanctions restricting technology exports make near-term 5G unlikely.
Why can't foreigners in North Korea call local numbers?expand_more
The domestic and foreign-visitor networks are deliberately kept logically separate — foreign-visitor SIMs sit on a different numbering plane and cannot route to domestic subscriber numbers.
Is WhatsApp or Signal available in North Korea?expand_more
No. These require global internet access, which domestic connections don't have — they're limited to the Kwangmyong intranet.
What time zone is North Korea in?expand_more
Korea Standard Time, UTC+9 — the same as South Korea and Japan. North Korea briefly used a separate UTC+8:30 'Pyongyang Time' from 2015 to 2018 before reverting to UTC+9.