North Korea is known as the most censored region in the world and operates one of the strictest regimes. North Korean citizens are limited in terms of internet access, the information they can see, and what they can learn about the outside world; therefore, North Korea is nicknamed the ‘Hermit Kingdom.’
Citizens in North Korea who are fortunate enough to own computers or mobile phones only have access to the Kwangmyong intranet system. A select few elite government officials and some university students have global internet access.
If you’re planning to visit North Korea in the future, then you’ll be able to access the internet with some limitations. However, to ensure that you can use the internet without surveillance, you need a VPN. Show more
We’ve compiled a list of the best VPN services for North Korea. The VPNs below offer advanced security features to ensure your web traffic is secure and private. Moreover, all the VPNs in this list offer an array of IP addresses from countries around the world.
| Max Speed: | 115000 Mbps |
|---|---|
| Type of IP offered: | Dedicated |
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | 6 |
| Number of Netflix Libraries: | 12 |
| Information sharing: | None |
| OS support: | Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows |
Ultra-fast connection
No-logs policy
5400 servers in 54 countries
Limited payment options
No Split Tunneling on desktop
Only 6 simultaneous connection
A rival for ExpressVPN’s throne as the best North Korean VPN is NordVPN. NordVPN offers thousands of IP addresses, providing users in North Korea the opportunity to bypass internet censorship.
NordVPN is an excellent VPN in terms of security; alongside military-grade encryption is an offering of protocols, including its proprietary NordLynx protocol, which combines security and speed.
A zero-logging policy protects your browsing data with IPv6 and DNS leak protection hiding your DNS requests and IP address. NordVPN even offers built-in malware protection to keep your operating systems safe.
One of the major benefits of NordVPN is its obfuscated servers. These servers hide your VPN usage from third parties, including the government, ensuring you won’t get caught using Virtual Private Network software. This makes NordVPN a great choice for other countries like China.
As well as obfuscated servers, Nord has several other specialized servers on its network, including streaming servers and over 4000 torrenting-optimized servers. The streaming servers are great news for users who want to watch content on South Korean Netflix.
Speed is no issue with NordVPN, and the VPN service provides fast download speeds to ensure that your connection is flawless, regardless of whether you connect to a server close by or far away. There are no bandwidth limits, so you can use Nord for as many data-heavy activities as you want.
With 6 device connections on each plan and support for many operating systems, including mobile phones, NordVPN is an excellent choice. You can enjoy the live chat support on the website and find information in the help section if you need to.
NordVPN accepts many payment options, and best of all, there is a 30-day money-back guarantee. The refund policy gives you a choice to opt-out of the subscription before the end of the first month.
Even though NordVPN doesn’t offer North Korean IP addresses, and is slightly more expensive than other providers, it is worth the higher price point.
| Max Speed: | 58000 Mbps |
|---|---|
| Type of IP offered: | Dedicated |
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | 5 |
| Number of Netflix Libraries: | 12 |
| Information sharing: | None |
| OS support: | Android, ChromeOS, iOS, Linux, macOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows |
Tons of payment options
24-hour live chat suppot
30-day money back guarantee
More expensive than competitors
Only 5 simultaneous connections
No servers in Russia
ExpressVPN is an excellent choice for a North Korea VPN, as it provides many IP address options and comes with powerful security tools.
If you want a VPN that can provide you with access to many locations around the world, then consider ExpressVPN. While it doesn’t offer servers in North Korea, you can get an IP address in the US or South Korea and enjoy blazing fast speeds thanks to the provider’s proprietary Lightway protocol.
Your internet connection will be super secure with ExpressVPN, regardless of whether you’re in North Korea or not. Express employs AES-256 bit encryption to make your web traffic indecipherable to third parties like Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and government agencies.
As well as the above, there is private DNS on every server an automatic kill switch to protect your browsing traffic should your server connection go down.
ExpressVPN users can rest assured that their browsing activity while using the service won’t be shared with any third parties after their session has ended. Along with a no-logs policy, Express uses RAM-only servers, which wipe themselves when switched off.
It’s worth noting that ExpressVPN has never experienced a successful attack on its network; this is a good sign of the level of security offered, which is extended to the VPN users.
If you want to bypass state censorship, you can do so with ExpressVPN. The provider can help users access blocked streaming services and websites in other countries. If you want to watch Netflix in the United States or the UK’s BBC iPlayer, you can do so with this service.
In terms of working in the restrictive North Korean state, ExpressVPN has the ability to do so. It even works in neighboring China and can bypass the country’s Great Firewall.
The provider accepts various payment methods, including Bitcoin, which is perfect for visitors who want to anonymize their VPN use further. Bitcoin guarantees that the purchase cannot be linked to you.
Although there are only 5 simultaneous connections per plan, which is quite low, ExpressVPN is truly one of the best VPN providers on the current market. It offers dedicated apps for all major platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android and provides an easy-to-use app.
| Max Speed: | Unlimited |
|---|---|
| Type of IP offered: | Shared |
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | Unlimited |
| Number of Netflix Libraries: | 15 |
| Information sharing: | None |
| OS support: | Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, ChromeOS, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows |
Full 15 Netflix Libraries
Tons of server locations
Great deal on 24 months
No Apple Pay Payment Option
Very expensive monthly
Allows P2P from all servers
One of the most popular VPN services is Surfshark. This provider is anti-internet censorship and can provide access to sites outside of the North Korean state.
Surfshark is packed full of excellent features to help you make the most out of your Virtual Private Network experience. First of all, there is the No Borders mode, which allows you to visit sites in restricted regions and bypass censorship.
The Camouflage mode is also useful as it hides your VPN usage from third parties, including ISPs, and allows you to subvert North Korea’s internet surveillance.
In terms of security, Surfshark excels. Using great protocols like OpenVPN and military-grade encryption, users can ensure that their connection to the internet is fully encrypted.
Surfshark has great unblocking abilities and can access news sites, social networks, and streaming services across the world. It can unblock a mammoth 15 Netflix libraries, providing access to a lot of content.
The network servers are high-speed and ensure you don’t suffer from slow page loads, regardless of whether you connect to a server in a country far away. There are no data caps either, so you can use the service as much as you want to.
Unlike many other VPNs, Surfshark has no limits when it comes to device connections. You can employ the service on as many mobile phones, desktop computers, and other IoT (Internet of Things) devices as you want.
Payment is easy with Surfshark since the service accepts all major credit cards. There is an array of customer support services, including a live chat, email address, and a help section on the website, where you can find most of the information you need.
With a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can test out this service and still get a full refund if you change your mind. Surfhsark is one of the most popular VPN services for North Korea, and for a good reason. If you’re planning a trip to North Korea, then this service is a great choice.
There is internet access in North Korea, but most people in the country don’t use it. A select few people have access to Kwanmyong, the internal North Korean internet infrastructure. Certain elite officials have wider access to the global internet and don’t have to endure the limitations imposed on other citizens.
Since the country has opened its border to tourists, it has slowly but surely started to make the state more tourist-friendly, including providing internet access.
Tourists can buy a foreigners-only SIM card or use the internet in hotels. This means that visitors won’t be limited to Kwangmyong and will be able to watch content other than what the Korean Central News Agency offers.
Planning a trip to North Korea? Then it would be best if you had a VPN. Here are the benefits that VPNs offer for North Korean visitors:
Getting a North Korean IP address is not easy. While none of the VPN services above offer a North Korean IP address, some do. For example, HideMyAss! (HMA) provides its users with access to IP addresses from the country itself via proxy servers located elsewhere; it also offers many other Asia VPN server locations. However, HMA isn’t as advanced as the providers we listed above.
However, since there is censorship in North Korea and limitations to the information you can see online, we don’t recommend surfing the web with a North Korea IP address unless you need to.
VPNs are not legal in North Korea, and therefore we recommended you proceed with caution if you decide to employ one. Accessing banned internet content and sites from outside the country could get you in trouble, so it is best to research the country’s cyber laws before visiting.
We don't advise people to use a free VPN for use in North Korea or to get a North Korean IP address. There are simply too many risks at hand, especially given that North Korea imposes strict laws against VPN use.
Yes, with a VPN, you can access these websites. Without a VPN, you'll find any attempt to visit these sites will be blocked.
NordVPN is a fast VPN service that can be used in North Korea. While it doesn't have North Korean servers it can help visitors in the territory access content from back home.
Hi there! I'm Monique, and I am a writer at VPNSurfers. I live in New York, but I'm originally from Delware. I love traveling, but the US will always be home to me.
I have more than 5 years of experience using VPNs, and I ha...
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