Good Time to Visit
Weather
The weather in North Korea (DPRK) is temperate, with warm summers and severely cold winters. It is hottest during the rainy season between July and August, coldest from December to January. Spring and autumn are mild and mainly dry, but winter in the north can be very severe, where rivers can freeze for up to 4 months.
Daily temperatures at Pyongyang in the west range from -3°C to -13°C in January, and from 20°C to 29°C in July to August. Average rainfall in Pyongyang ranges between a minimum of 1 cm in February and a maximum of 23 cm in July.
Visitors are advised to bring lightweight cottons and linens during the summer, with light- to medium-weights for the spring and autumn. Winter requires medium- to heavyweights. Waterproofs are advisable during the rainy season.
More information about North Korean weather in may be found in Climate in North Korea.
Festivals
Events include May Day, on 1 May and Liberation Day, celebrated each August with parades in Pyongyang.
Public Holidays
The following table shows the public holidays celebrated in North Korea:
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year's Day |
| 16 February | Kim Jong-il's Birthday |
| 15 April | Day of the Sun (Kim il-Sung's Birthday) |
| 25 April | Foundation of the People's Army (Army Day) |
| 1 May | International Workers' Day (Labour Day) |
| 27 July | Victory Day |
| 15 August | Liberation Day |
| September/October (variable) | Ch'usok (Harvest Moon Festival) |
| 9 September | Independence Day |
| 10 October | Korean Workers' Party (KWP) Foundation Day |
| 27 December | Constitution Day |