Country Dialing Guide

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 · LiveAsia/Pyongyang
--:--:--
Pyongyang
+850
Country code
00
Exit code
26,000,000
People
26,000,000
Population
Active SIMs
2
Mobile operators
+850
Country code
01At a glance

North Korea at a glance

The numbers and facts you need before you dial.

Country
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)
Country code
+850
ISO codes
KP / PRK
International access code (from DPRK)
00
Trunk prefix
0 (domestic calls between area codes)
Capital
Pyongyang
Population
~26,000,000 (estimated)
Currency
North Korean Won (KPW)
Time zone
Korea Standard Time (KST), UTC+9, no DST
Official language
Korean
Regulator
Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (no independent regulator)
Notable fact
North Korea runs two logically separate phone networks on the same infrastructure — domestic subscribers cannot call internationally, and foreign-visitor SIMs cannot reach domestic numbers at all
02The basics

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.

+85000850011 85000 850

All four mean the same thing — they connect your call to North Korea.

03Dialing format

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.

COUNTRY
+850
·
AREA
2
·
SUBSCRIBER
XXX XXXX

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.

United States & Canada
exit 011
011 + 850 + area code + number
011 850 2 XXXXXXX
United Kingdom
exit 00
00 + 850 + area code + number
00 850 2 XXXXXXX
Europe
exit 00
00 + 850 + area code + number
00 850 2 XXXXXXX
Australia
exit 0011
0011 + 850 + area code + number
0011 850 2 XXXXXXX
04Number format

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

05Area codes

North Korea area codes — major cities

Drop the local leading 0 when calling from abroad.

// Full directory8 entries
CityRegionArea code
PyongyangCapital2
SinuijuNorth Pyongan39
KaesongNorth Hwanghae49
NampoSouth Pyongan24
WonsanKangwon69
Hamhung / ChongjinSouth / North Hamgyong73
RasonSpecial Economic Zone75
HyesanRyanggang79
06Mobile networks

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.

K

Koryolink

+850 191 / 192

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.

KN

Kangsong NET

+850 195

Fully state-run 4G LTE network launched around 2015, concentrated in Pyongyang; subscriber numbers are not publicly available.

07Time zone

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.

Seoul (KST)
Same time zone
Beijing (CST)
1 hour ahead of North Korea
Tokyo (JST)
Same time zone
London (GMT/BST)
9 hours behind North Korea (8 in UK summer)
New York (EST/EDT)
14 hours behind North Korea (13 in US summer)
Best call windows
Not generally applicable — standard dialing to domestic North Korean numbers rarely connects regardless of time of day; any legitimate contact typically runs through a diplomatic or state-approved channel.
08Emergency

Emergency numbers in North Korea

Free to call from any North Korea phone, landline or mobile.

119
Fire brigade / medical emergency
112
Police (People's Safety Agency)
09Avoid these

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.

10Save money

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.

11For business

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.

MCMPlatform

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)

Ulinzi wa ulaghai uliojengewa ndani kwa kugundua hitilafu ya AI & STIR/SHAKEN

Ufuatiliaji wa mtandao wa 24/7 na usaidizi wa kujitolea

12Anza

Jinsi ya kupata nambari yako ya mtandaoni ya Korea Kaskazini

Biashara nyingi zinapatikana ndani ya saa, sio siku.

1

Wasiliana na timu yetu KWANZA - Upatikanaji wa Korea Kaskazini unakaguliwa kwa kila hali kutokana na usanifu wa mtandao wa DPRK na vikwazo vya vikwazo; hakuna utoaji wa huduma binafsi.

2

Tutathibitisha ni nini, ikiwa kuna chochote, kinaweza kutolewa chini ya kanuni zinazotumika, na kupendekeza njia mbadala ya kikanda (Korea Kusini +82, Uchina +86) ikiwa nambari ya +850 haitumiki kwa kesi yako ya utumiaji.

3

Sanidi uelekezaji - elekeza nambari kwenye simu ya mkononi, shina la SIP, simu laini, PBX, au IVR popote duniani.

4

Nenda moja kwa moja - anza kupokea simu ukitumia kitambulisho chako cha mpigaji simu cha eneo ulichochagua, kinachoungwa mkono na SLA ya MCM ya 99.99% ya uptime na utunzaji wa simu unaotambua kufuata.

13Nchi zinazohusiana

Miongozo mingine ya upigaji simu ya nchi

Misimbo zaidi ya nchi yenye thamani ya kualamisha.

Pata nambari pepe ya Korea Kaskazini ukitumia MCM

Je, unahitaji kuwasiliana na mtu aliye Korea Kaskazini? Upigaji simu wa kawaida hauwezekani kufaulu. Wasiliana na timu yetu ili kujadili chaguo zinazopatikana za uelekezaji za +850, au njia mbadala ya kikanda ambayo inafaa hali yako ya utumiaji.

FAQ

Korea Kaskazini +850 - Maswali Yanayoulizwa Mara kwa Mara

Je, ninaweza kupiga simu Korea Kaskazini kutoka kwa simu yangu ya mkononi?expand_more

Unaweza kupiga simu kitaalam +850 pamoja na msimbo wa eneo na nambari, lakini simu hakika haitaunganishwa. Ni idadi ndogo tu ya laini za serikali, kidiplomasia na biashara ya serikali zinazokubali simu zinazoingia za kimataifa.

Nini kitatokea nikijaribu kupiga nambari ya simu ya Korea Kaskazini kutoka nje ya nchi?expand_more

Kwa kawaida utapata hitilafu ya mtandao, ujumbe wa 'nambari haipatikani', au kunyamazisha - nambari za ndani za Koryolink na Kangsong NET hazielekezwi ili kukubali simu za kimataifa zinazoingia.

Je! Wakorea Kaskazini wanaweza kunipigia simu?expand_more

Hapana. Wasajili wa ndani hawawezi kupiga simu za kimataifa hata kidogo - ni idadi ndogo tu ya laini zilizowekwa maalum za serikali, ubalozi na zilizoidhinishwa na serikali zinaweza kupiga simu kimataifa.

Je, ninaweza kutumia simu yangu mwenyewe nikitembelea Korea Kaskazini?expand_more

Simu yako ya kibinafsi haitaunganishwa kwenye mtandao wowote wa Korea Kaskazini, kwa kuwa hakuna makubaliano ya kutumia uzururaji. Huenda ukahitaji kusalimisha kwenye uwanja wa ndege, au unaweza kununua SIM ya mgeni wa Koryolink kwa simu za kimataifa.

Je, ninaweza kutuma SMS kwa nambari ya Korea Kaskazini?expand_more

Hapana - mtandao wa ndani haukubali SMS za kimataifa zinazoingia. SIM ya mgeni wa kigeni inayotumiwa ndani ya Korea Kaskazini inaweza kutuma SMS za kimataifa kwa nambari zilizo nje ya DPRK, lakini sio kwa nambari za nyumbani.

Kwangmyong ni nini?expand_more

Intranet ya Korea Kaskazini ya ndani pekee, tofauti kabisa na mtandao wa kimataifa. Inatoa maudhui yaliyoidhinishwa na serikali, barua pepe ndani ya mtandao wa ndani, na baadhi ya burudani - zote za mtandao wa simu na za laini zisizobadilika zinafikia Kwangmyong badala ya mtandao.

Je, Korea Kaskazini ina 4G au 5G?expand_more

Kangsong NET inaendesha 4G LTE, haswa Pyongyang. Koryolink ni 3G. Hakuna huduma ya 5G, na vikwazo vya kimataifa vinavyozuia usafirishaji wa teknolojia hufanya uwezekano wa karibu wa 5G kutowezekana.

Kwa nini wageni katika Korea Kaskazini hawawezi kupiga nambari za ndani?expand_more

Mitandao ya wageni wa ndani na nje huwekwa tofauti kimantiki kimakusudi - SIM za wageni wa kigeni hukaa kwenye ndege tofauti ya kuorodhesha na haziwezi kuelekeza nambari za watumiaji wa ndani.

Je, WhatsApp au Signal inapatikana Korea Kaskazini?expand_more

Hapana. Hizi zinahitaji ufikiaji wa mtandao wa kimataifa, ambao miunganisho ya nyumbani haina - zinapatikana tu kwa intraneti ya Kwangmyong.

Korea Kaskazini iko katika eneo la saa ngapi?expand_more

Saa Wastani ya Korea, UTC+9 - sawa na Korea Kusini na Japani. Korea Kaskazini ilitumia kwa muda mfupi UTC+8:30 'Saa ya Pyongyang' kutoka 2015 hadi 2018 kabla ya kurejea UTC+9.