Ever tried to coordinate a call with someone in a place that literally invented its own time zone just to make a political point? Honestly, it’s a headache. If you’re wondering what time is it in North Korea, the short answer is that they are currently on Korea Standard Time (KST). That is exactly 9 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+9).
But man, it hasn’t always been that simple.
North Korea is one of those rare places where the local time isn't just about the sun hitting the meridian; it’s about sovereignty, history, and sometimes, a very specific type of spite. For a few years there, if you crossed the DMZ, you had to wind your watch back thirty minutes. Then, suddenly, you didn't.
The Current Reality: UTC+9
Right now, in 2026, North Korea is in total sync with South Korea and Japan. If it’s noon in Seoul, it’s noon in Pyongyang. There is no "Pyongyang Time" offset anymore. They don't do Daylight Saving Time (DST) either. While the US and Europe are busy "springing forward" and "falling back," North Korea stays locked at UTC+9 all year round.
This makes them 14 hours ahead of New York (during Standard Time) or 13 hours ahead when the US is on Daylight Time. Basically, when you’re finishing dinner on the East Coast, the residents of Pyongyang are likely waking up to the sound of sirens or state-sanctioned radio broadcasts to start their workday.
Why North Korea Kept Changing the Clock
You've gotta look at the history to understand why people get so confused about this. Back in 2015, Kim Jong Un decided that sharing a time zone with Japan was a lingering stain of colonialism. See, before 1912, the Korean peninsula actually sat at UTC+8:30. When Japan occupied the territory, they moved the clocks forward by 30 minutes to match Tokyo.
To mark the 70th anniversary of liberation from Japanese rule, the North announced they were going back to "Pyongyang Time."
It was a bold move. It was also a logistical nightmare for anyone working at the Kaesong Industrial Complex or dealing with cross-border communications. For three years, the peninsula was literally split by thirty minutes of temporal difference.
The 2018 Reversal
Then came the 2018 Inter-Korean Summit.
Reportedly, Kim Jong Un was sitting in the Peace House at the border and looked up at the wall. There were two clocks hanging there—one for Seoul, one for Pyongyang. He later said it was "heartbreaking" to see the two Koreas divided even by time.
So, on May 5, 2018, North Korea officially moved their clocks forward 30 minutes. Just like that, "Pyongyang Time" was dead, and they were back to UTC+9. It was framed as a "first practical step" toward national unification.
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Technical Details You Should Know
If you are a developer or someone managing international logistics, you’ve probably seen "Asia/Pyongyang" in your timezone database.
- IANA Time Zone ID: Asia/Pyongyang
- Current Offset: UTC +9
- Abbreviation: KST (Korea Standard Time)
- DST: Not observed
Interestingly, even though the political relationship between the North and the rest of the world fluctuates wildly, the time sync has remained stable since 2018. They haven't messed with the clocks despite the increased tensions in recent years. It seems the "unified time" is one of the few things both sides actually agree on keeping.
Is North Korean Time "Real"?
There’s often a misconception that North Korean time is somehow "fake" or that they don't follow international standards. That's not true. They use atomic clocks and are very precise about their timekeeping. It’s managed by the State Commission for Science and Technology.
In fact, if you watch the state-run KCTV (Korean Central Television), the start of their broadcast is timed perfectly to the second. They take the "standard" part of Standard Time very seriously. It’s just that the choice of which standard to follow is 100% a political decision made at the very top.
How to Calculate the Time Difference Fast
If you don't want to keep Googling "what time is it in North Korea," just remember the "Plus Nine" rule from London. Or, if you’re in the US, use the "Flip and Add" method:
Take your current time (Standard Time), flip AM to PM, and add three hours.
Example: It’s 7:00 PM in New York.
Flip to 7:00 AM.
Add 3 hours.
It’s 10:00 AM the next day in Pyongyang.
It’s a bit of mental gymnastics, but it works every time.
The Takeaway
North Korea’s relationship with time is a weirdly perfect metaphor for its relationship with the world: isolationist one day, trying to find common ground the next, but always doing exactly what the leadership wants.
For now, keep your clocks set to UTC+9. If you’re tracking a flight, a news event, or just curious about the rhythm of life in the world’s most reclusive nation, they are exactly where South Korea is.
Next Steps for You:
If you're managing a global team or software project, ensure your servers are using the Asia/Pyongyang or Asia/Seoul zone to prevent a 30-minute lag in legacy systems that might still be hard-coded for the 2015-2018 "Pyongyang Time" offset. Double-check your UTC offsets for any automated tasks scheduled for early morning KST, as the lack of DST means your relative gap will change twice a year if you are in the US or Europe.