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Climate in North Korea


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - North Korea

Map - North Korea

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In North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), the climate is continental, with freezing, sunny winters and hot, rainy summers.
The country is affected by the monsoon circulation: during winter, the cold northwest wind of Siberian origin prevails, while in summer, it is replaced by southern currents of tropical origin.
This explains the precipitation regime of North Korea, which, for example, is opposite to that of the Mediterranean: the driest months are those of winter, while the highest amount of rainfall is recorded in July and August. The rains brought by the summer monsoon can sometimes be very abundant and cause flooding (as happened, for example, in August 2007 or in July 2012).
In summer and early autumn, the country can be reached by typhoons.
Generally, North Korea is a sunny country. There are many sunny days even in winter, while in summer, the sunshine hours decrease a bit because the monsoon brings some periods of bad weather.

The climate in detail


  • North - Hyesan, Mountains, Sonbong
  • Center-South - Pyongyang, Wonsan, Kosong
  • Typhoons
  • When to go
  • What to pack
  • Climate data

North


In the north, largely occupied by hills and mountains, winter is freezing and sunny, since the air masses of Siberian origin prevail. In summer, temperatures vary with altitude, and at low altitudes it is hot. The rains are concentrated in the May-September period. Even though winter is dry, it can sometimes snow.

Hyesan

Climate chart - Hyesan
In Hyesan, a city located in the far north, on the border with China and at 700 meters (2,300 feet) above sea level, the average January temperature is -15.7 °C (3.7 °F). The temperature drops below -5 °C (23 °F) for 150 days a year, and this happens from October to April. The coldest record is -37.2 °C (-35 °F) and was set in January 1959, while in January 2018 the temperature dropped to -34 °C (-29 °F).
In summer there are quite cool periods, but also hot periods, in which the temperature exceeds 30 °C (86 °F), sometimes as early as the end of May, before the monsoon. The highest record is 38.3 °C (100.9 °F) and was set in August 2016.
Precipitation in the north is quite scarce, and in Hyesan it exceeds 100 mm (4 in) per month only in July and August.

Mount Paektu

Mountains

In the interior of North Korea, there are mountainous areas, where the climate gets even colder, and in winter, the temperature in the worst moments can plunge to -40 °C (-40 °F). The highest ranges are found in the northeast, and are the Rangrim mountains, whose highest peak is Wagalbong, 2,260 meters (7,415 ft) high, and the Hamgyong Mountains, which include several peaks over 2,000 meters (6,500 feet), the highest of which is Mount Kwanmo, 2,540 meters (8,333 feet) high.
However, the highest peak of the country, and the sacred mountain for the Koreans, is Mount Paektu, also known as Baekdu or Baitou, which is located in the northeast, on the border with China, and it's 2,744 meters (9,003 ft) high. It is a volcano, and its center is occupied by a caldera lake, called "Heaven Lake", which was formed after the big eruption of 946 AD. Snow may cover the top until June.
Climate chart - Samjiyon
In Samjiyon, situated at 1,350 meters (4,400 feet), at the foot of Mount Paektu, the average temperature ranges from -16.7 °C (2 °F) in January to 17.2 °C (63 °F) in July. In 2018, the temperature dropped to -40 °C (-40 °F) in February, while it hit 33.5 °C (92.5 °F) in August.

Another famous mountain is Mount Kumgang, 1,638 meters (5,374 ft) high, located in the south-east, a short distance from the border with South Korea, in the area having a milder climate, and where access is allowed to tourists from South Korea. Here, there is a landscape characterized by its rock formations. In winter, you can find frozen waterfalls.

Mount Kumgang

Sonbong

Climate chart - Sonbong
On the north-eastern coast, near the border with Russia, the climate is colder than in the center-south, both because of the higher latitude and because of the presence of a cold sea current, called Liman current.
In Sonbong, located on the coast, at 42 degrees north latitude, near the border with Siberia and 150 km (90 mi) from Vladivostok, the average temperature ranges from -6.7 °C (20 °F) in January to 21.8 °C (71 °F) in July. Spring is very cool, if not cold, and summer is not particularly warm.
In the north-east, the climate is quite arid, since cold air from the north prevails for much of the year, and the summer monsoon arrives with more difficulty. However, summer is the wettest season here as well.
In the northeast the sea, near the freezing point in winter, remains cool even in summer, and reaches only 21 °C (70 °F) in August.

Center-South


In the central and southern part of North Korea, the climate is milder, however, winter is still very cold, especially on the west coast and in inland areas.

Pyongyang

Climate chart - Pyongyang
The capital, Pyongyang, is located on the western side, about forty kilometers (25 miles) away from the Yellow Sea coast. In winter, during cold spells, the temperature can drop below -20 °C (-4 °F); in January 2001, it dropped to -26.5 °C (-15.5 °F).
Summer is hot and muggy, and in periods of good weather the temperature can reach 34/35 °C (93/95 °F). The highest record is 37.9 °C (100.2 °F) and was set in August 2018.
In Pyongyang, precipitation averages 935 millimeters (37 inches) per year, so it's quite abundant, although it is concentrated from May to September; in winter, it is scarce, and given the temperatures, it occurs in the form of snow.
The sun often shines for most of the year, except in summer, when the monsoon reduces the number of hours of sunshine.

Pyongyang

On the west coast of North Korea, the Yellow Sea, very cold in winter, becomes warm enough for swimming in summer, especially in August.

Along the coasts, the weather is a bit milder, in addition, at a given latitude, the east coast, on the Korean East Sea (or Sea of Japan), is milder than the western coast, on the Yellow Sea.

Wonsan

Climate chart - Wonsan
In Wonsan, located on the east coast, at the same latitude as Pyongyang, the average January temperature is -1.5 °C (29 °F). In January 2001, the temperature dropped to -18.3 °C (-0.9 °F).
Here too, very hot periods can occur in summer. Actually, the wind that descends from the mountains located southwest of the city can lead to sudden increases in temperature in all seasons. The highest record is 39.7 °C (103.5 °F), set in July 2018.
In Wonsan, 1,350 mm (53 in) of rain fall per year; here, in particular, the month of September is still very rainy.
In Wonsan too, the sun often shines for most of the year, excluding in summer, when the monsoon reduces the number of the sunshine hours.
On the east coast, the sea temperature in summer is 1-2 degrees Celsius lower than on the west coast, and reaches a maximum of 23.5 °C (74.5 °F) in August.

Kosong

Climate chart - Kosong
Southeast of Wonsan, winter is even milder, so much so that in Kosong, near the border with South Korea and at the foot of Mount Kumgang (see below), the average of January goes up to 0 °C (32 °F). In 2018, the temperature dropped to -17 °C (1.5 °F) in January, while it hit 38 °C (100.5 °F) in August.
In this area, the rains are even more abundant, since they amount to 1,500 mm (59 in) per year, and in particular, they exceed 300 mm (12 in) per month in July and August.

Typhoons



As mentioned, during the summer, the DPRK can be reached by typhoons, the tropical cyclones of East Asia. Typically, typhoons affect Korea from July to early October (and more rarely, also in the second half of June), with a higher probability in the first half of September.
Since typhoons come from the south, they affect more directly South Korea, where they bring the strongest winds and the most intense sea storms; usually, in North Korea, they mostly bring heavy rainfall, which is added to that of the summer monsoon and can cause landslides and floods.

When to go



Considering the winter cold as well as the heat and the rains of summer, the best times to visit North Korea are spring and autumn, in particular, the months of May and October, though in October, it may already get cold in the northern mountainous and inland areas (where June and September are preferable).

What to pack



In winter: bring very warm clothes, such as a down jacket, gloves, a scarf, and a hat. Especially for inland and mountainous areas, bring clothing for extreme cold, thermal underwear, a parka, a jacket in Gore-Tex, gloves, a hat, and a scarf.

In summer: bring light clothing, a light sweatshirt, a light raincoat or umbrella, and a scarf for the wind. In the hills and in the northeast, a sweatshirt and a light jacket for the evening; in high mountains, a jacket and a sweater.

Climate data - North Korea


Temperatures: °C, Precipitation: mm
Chongjin
Chongjin, location on the map
Chongjin, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-9-7-2381318191470-6
Max temp.0261317202426231782
Precip.1051530657512512580353015
Prec. days433481012106444
Day length10111213151515141211109

Chunggang (330 meters)
Chunggang, location on the map
Chunggang, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-23-18-718141817101-8-19
Max temp.-8-26152326292823164-5
Precip.5101530659017515060353015
Prec. days345691011106665
Sun hours566666555544

Hamhung
Hamhung, location on the map
Hamhung, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-9-7-15101620201470-6
Max temp.351017222528282520125
Precip.10102045708520517595405020
Prec. days43457812117563

Hyesan (700 meters)
Hyesan, location on the map
Hyesan, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-23-20-10-251116157-2-10-20
Max temp.-8-35142125282722143-6
Precip.5101030608513511550302010
Prec. days5468121414127676
Day length10111213141515141211109

Kaesong
Kaesong, location on the map
Kaesong, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-8-606121721221681-6
Max temp.251017232728292620114
Precip.1020255095105360285110404020
Prec. days34567813116565

Kanggye (300 meters)
Kanggye, location on the map
Kanggye, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-18-14-539151918113-5-15
Max temp.-508162328292924166-3
Precip.101020407511520517075453015
Prec. days5468101314127776

Kimchaek
Kimchaek, location on the map
Kimchaek, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-8-6-2491419201480-6
Max temp.23814182125262418114
Precip.15151535606014513580403520
Prec. days6445781095445
Humidity64%67%68%68%77%85%88%85%78%71%66%62%
Sun hours677875567765

Kosong
Kosong, location on the map
Kosong, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-4-3271217212116114-2
Max temp.451016212427272419136
Precip.40455070901403053151901109550
Prec. days44667912128564
Sea temp86691318222422181511

Nampo
Nampo, location on the map
Nampo, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-8-5061218212217102-5
Max temp.03916222628292619102
Precip.10151535658020016570404020
Prec. days4445671186576
Sea temp5347111822252319149

Pungsan (1,200 meters)
Pungsan, location on the map
Pungsan, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-21-18-11-33813135-2-10-19
Max temp.-6-33111822242419134-4
Precip.551525509515513065302010
Prec. days3468101214138565

Pyongyang
Pyongyang, location on the map
Pyongyang, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-10-7-16121721221680-7
Max temp.031018242829302619101
Precip.10152545759027521090454020
Prec. days44467812106676
Humidity67%63%60%58%63%71%80%80%73%70%71%69%
Day length101112131415151412111010
Sun hours677888677765

Samjiyon (1,350 meters)
Samjiyon, location on the map
Samjiyon, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-23-21-15-52712113-4-12-20
Max temp.-10-7-18152023221710-1-9
Precip.152030459013019019075404525
Prec. days99121115171716991212

Sinpo
Sinpo, location on the map
Sinpo, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-7-6-15101519201581-5
Max temp.34814192226272418115
Precip.20151535606015012585404015
Prec. days5345771096454

Sinuiju
Sinuiju, location on the map
Sinuiju, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-10-7-15121721211580-8
Max temp.-1391622262829261890
Precip.51520558512525024095803515
Prec. days234681013106654
Sun hours677887567766

Sonbong
Sonbong, location on the map
Sonbong, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-12-10-428131818125-3-9
Max temp.-2161216192325221670
Precip.510153585901651558545255
Prec. days2345101315127544
Day length10111213151515141211109
Sea temp21148131821191594

Wonsan
Wonsan, location on the map
Wonsan, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-6-4171217202116103-3
Max temp.351017222427272419125
Precip.2025356095130320280200757035
Prec. days445681014138664
Day length101112131415151412111010
Sun hours778887667766
Sea temp65581217212422181410



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See also the temperatures month by month


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