North Korea is often subject to jokes for its lack of internet access. Is there any Wifi in North Korea? It’s often been assumed that there isn’t. However, as the DPRK’s tourist industry continues to develop, there is now the opportunity for you to access the worldwide web from several Pyongyang hotels! So far, we can confirm the Yanggakdo International Hotel and the Pothongang Hotel are both offering some form of Wifi services! Let’s find out more!
In the Potonggang hotel, Wifi is available in the lobby. This however comes at a cost. Tourists are able to purchase Wifi for 10 Chinese RMB ($1.45 USD) per 10 minutes. You need to arrange it at a desk next to reception, where they will enter a password onto your device and give you access for the full time you paid for. Once the session is over, you will be logged out of the network automatically. This wifi network comes with Chinese style censorship which blocks western media, so also a VPN at hand! Sources in the hotel say the service will soon be expanded to rooms.
In the Yanggakdo International Hotel, Wifi is available in the hotel’s basement area in Casino Pyongyang. Again, it must be paid for and comes at a similar rate to the above, with the staff also using a password to log you into the system for a specified amount of time. Using the Casino’s games is not a prerequisite to having it, although obviously such is used to encourage such. As this is a Chinese, rather than a DPRK operated venture, certain cashless payment platforms can be used (although this may have changed). Again however, make sure you have a VPN handy to skirt censorship.
So there you have it, Wifi in North Korea. It’s not much, but it’s a start and makes enough of an impact to revolutionize your experience in the DPRK. Suddenly, you aren’t cut off from the world there anymore… we expect it to extend to more hotels, as well as noted above (rooms) soon enough!
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