Rules of the Road · Verified August 2026

Driving Laws in North Korea

Everything a visitor needs before driving in North Korea — which side to drive on, the alcohol limit, national speed limits and licence requirements.

right

Driving Side

steering wheel on the left

0.05

BAC Limit (g/dL)

general drivers

—

Motorway Limit

no motorway class

required

Intl. Driving Permit

for foreign visitors

Speed Limits

National Default Speed Limits

Urban / Built-up

—

Rural / Open Road

—

Motorway / Highway

—

Note: Foreigners rarely permitted to drive.

Defaults only — posted signs always override national defaults. Laws verified August 2026; rules change, so confirm with an official source before you travel.

Alcohol & Driving

Drink-Driving Rules in North Korea

General limit: 0.05 g/dL

Reaction time, judgement and night vision all degrade well below any legal threshold — the only limit that guarantees safety is 0.00. Alcohol is a factor in a large share of the world's fatal crashes, and enforcement in North Korea can include checkpoints, licence loss and jail.

Live Tracking

North Korea on the Live Map

North Korea has a WHO-estimated 19.1 road deaths per 100,000 people. See live accident reports and full statistics for North Korea.

Before You Go

Emergency Number

Save North Korea's emergency number before you drive — find it in our worldwide emergency numbers directory. And check your rental's tires with the tire age checker.

Nearby

Driving Laws in Neighbouring Countries

South Korea Japan Taiwan Mongolia China Russia

Questions

FAQ

Which side of the road does North Korea drive on?

North Korea drives on the right-hand side of the road (like most of the world).

What is the drink-driving limit in North Korea?

The general limit is 0.05 g/dL BAC. Remember: impairment starts well below the legal limit.

Do I need an International Driving Permit in North Korea?

Yes — an IDP (or a locally issued permit) is required or strongly enforced for foreign visitors driving in North Korea. Foreigners rarely permitted to drive.

Is it safe to drive in North Korea?

By the numbers, North Korea has a WHO-estimated road death rate of 19.1 per 100,000 people (global average about 15), which is well above the global average, so extra care is needed — it ranks 64 of 195 countries from most to least deadly. Traffic drives on the right. Visitors need an International Driving Permit. Most road deaths anywhere happen at night, at higher speeds and on rural roads, so plan long drives in daylight and follow the posted limits.