UK FCDO Advises Against All But Essential Travel to North Korea
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel to North Korea, citing continued high tension on the Korean Peninsula, a security situation that can change quickly without warning, and past detentions of foreign nationals denied access to their governments' support. North Korea's borders have been closed to general entry since COVID-19 restrictions in 2020; the government has recently begun relaxing them, with some embassies resuming operations and limited tourism restarting, but not all passenger routes have resumed and many embassies—including the British Embassy in Pyongyang—remain closed. Travelling against FCDO advice could invalidate t…
Impact and considerations
This advice directly affects corporate compliance and insurance arrangements for sending staff to North Korea; travelling against it may invalidate insurance, and with no British Embassy presence, emergency evacuation and consular assistance are severely limited.
Key points
- The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to North Korea due to continued high tension on the Korean Peninsula.
- The security situation can change quickly without warning, posing significant risks to British visitors and residents.
- North Korea's borders have been closed since 2020 COVID-19 restrictions; relaxation has begun with some embassies resuming operations and limited tourism restarting, but not all passenger routes have resumed.
- Many embassies, including the British Embassy in Pyongyang, remain closed, and FCDO support is severely limited.
- Travelling against FCDO advice could invalidate travel insurance.
Sources and time
- Primary source
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
- Other sources
- 0
- First source publication
- 10 Dec 2025, 21:22
- Page published
- 13 Aug 2026, 08:28
- Last updated
- 10 Dec 2025, 21:22
- Original links
- FCDO Travel Advice:Korea, DPR (North Korea) travel advice (opens in a new tab)Primary source · en · Published 8 Mar 2013, 08:00