What Language Do They Speak in North Korea?

Header image for North Korea

North Korea

North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia occupying the northern portion of the Korean Peninsula. Governed by the Korean Workers' Party, it is characterized by its centralized, authoritarian regime and a focus on Juche, a self-reliance ideology. Economically, it remains largely isolated from the world, but is known for its cultural heritage, militarization, and periodic diplomatic engagements with other countries.

Languages Spoken

In North Korea, the primary language spoken is Korean. It is not only the official language but is also universally spoken by the entire population, comprising 100% of language use in the country. The form of Korean used in North Korea has some differences in vocabulary and pronunciation compared to the version spoken in South Korea, primarily due to decades of political separation and isolation.

Different Languages Spoken in North Korea

Language data last updated 2024 est. from Wikipedia - North Korea

LanguageUsage
Korean100%
Note: The total may add up to more than 100% as people may speak multiple languages

Useful Korean Phrases

Learn these phrases if you're planning on traveling to North Korea

안녕하세요?

Hello.

A basic greeting used at any time of the day.

얼마예요?

How much is it?

Useful for asking the price of items.

어디에 있어요?

Where is...?

Used to ask for directions or locations.

이해하지 못합니다.

I don't understand.

Helpful if you need to indicate a language barrier.

제발, 감사합니다.

Please, thank you.

Polite phrases for expressing gratitude and making requests.

Learn to speak Korean

Interested in speaking Korean in North Korea? Using Lingocat you can learn the basics of the language and start speaking in no time with the help of our AI Language Tutors.

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