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1. Western fashion
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered a ban on all types of jeans and Western fashion in two areas bordering China. Pyongyang is trying to resist the influence of Western culture spreading across the border region.
2. Coca-Cola
Drinks in North Korea
The ban on importing Coca-Cola into North Korea has made it difficult for tourists to find the popular drink. However, some stores in Pyongyang still sell coke produced in China.
3. Hairstyle
Kim Jong Un only allows women to have 18 hairstyles and men 15, according to regulations. And no one is allowed to dye their hair, so finding hair dye in this country is impossible.
4. Sanitary pads
Disposable sanitary pads or tampons are not available in North Korea. Women there typically use reusable sanitary pads.
5. Condoms
All forms of contraception are banned in North Korea, so finding condoms there is extremely difficult. Many adults in North Korea are happy to receive condoms as a gift.
6. Real Estate
The North Korean government owns all land and real estate in the country. Therefore, buying or selling houses and apartments is essentially impossible. However, North Koreans have found ways to do so, leading to a law on real estate transactions becoming a reality this year.
7. Designer Shoes
If you're in North Korea and thinking about buying a pair of Manolo Blancos, sorry, you're really out of luck. Designer shoes like these aren't available in the country except in the border region with China. There you'll find plenty of Chinese-made high heels for sale there.
8. Christmas tree
North Korea is officially an atheist country. Therefore, you cannot buy any Christmas decorations, such as Christmas trees.
9. Starbucks
If you want to drink coffee in Pyongyang, you can go to a famous coffee shop called Ryongwang Coffee Shop.
10. Cable TV
There are only four official television channels in North Korea. Government censorship is very strict, which is why television channels are so limited.
11. Western Magazines
The North Korean government's propaganda machine strictly prohibits all forms of Western media. The government and special agencies control and regulate the content printed in newspapers. There are no lifestyle magazines in the country. The only things people can read are educational or political articles.
12. Wi-Fi and international calls
Of North Korea's current population of 15 million, approximately 1 million own mobile phones. However, they cannot make international calls. The use of 3G networks is also strictly prohibited. Foreign visitors need to purchase prepaid SIM cards to make international calls.
13. Concert tickets
Very few international artists are allowed to perform in North Korea. Because of this, attending a concert to see your favorite artist perform is virtually impossible. Previously, the only band permitted to perform was a Slovenian band called Laibach, who held a concert in 2015. Locals can usually only attend concerts by local artists or bands.
14. Apple
There is a ban on the sale of high-tech devices in North Korea. Buying an iPad in that country is unthinkable. However, North Korea has independently developed a tablet that can replace Western-made technology devices.
15. Sports car
Another luxury item that is completely absent in North Korea is the sports car. Buying an expensive sports car in this country seems impossible, due to sanctions from the United Nations and the European Union.
16. Traveling abroad
International flights are rare in North Korea, mostly to China or Russia.
North Koreans are not allowed to travel abroad. This clearly violates human rights, yet North Koreans are largely unaware of this situation. The North Korean leadership is trying to protect its country from foreign invaders. They ban so many things while the world we live in is changing every day.
To visit relatives in another town or village, people must obtain permission. However, some North Koreans may still travel abroad to China or Russia for the purpose of earning money.
17. Adhere to public etiquette.
Certain actions, such as whistling or shouting in public, are strictly prohibited. Furthermore, tampering with property in North Korea can result in severe penalties for tourists.
18. Do not use North Korean currency.
As a foreign tourist, you can only use certain currencies in North Korea, such as the US dollar, the euro, and the Chinese yuan. Regulations allow you to bring 20,000 yuan or 5,000 USD into the country. Alternatively, you can exchange currency at your hotel. However, the exchange rate is not favorable. Tourists should exchange money before traveling. According to some travel agencies, the euro is the best currency to use.
19. Follow the tour guide's instructions.
Failing to follow the tour guide's instructions or warnings can cause you and your group trouble, even resulting in penalties in North Korea. To minimize potential problems, tourists should carefully pay attention to and strictly follow the instructions and regulations set forth by the tour guide.
20. The country should be called by its full name.
If you are traveling to North Korea, please refer to the country by its full name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, to avoid unnecessary trouble.
21. Do not make negative comments about North Korea, its people, or its leaders.
When visiting the world's most mysterious country, tourists should refrain from criticizing or making negative comments about the North Korean government. Your remarks could be reported to the authorities and lead to unnecessary trouble.
22. Photography is prohibited in military areas and around monuments.
Tourists are allowed to take photos in North Korea. However, for national security reasons, the authorities control all tourist photos. Areas like military zones are strictly off-limits. Photos showing only a portion of a leader's statue are also not accepted. If you want to take photos at a monument, you should ensure you capture the entire statue. Besides dressing respectfully, tourists should avoid showing disrespect to the statues of the leaders or imitating the poses of North Korean leaders when taking pictures.
Tour guides and police will check your camera and delete anything that is deemed "invalid" when you go through the exit procedures from North Korea.
