The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade refreshed multiple destination advisories on 19 February, with North Korea (DPRK) retaining its highest-risk ‘Do Not Travel’ status. The notice reiterates that travel within the DPRK is tightly controlled, visitors may be arbitrarily detained, and Australia has no diplomatic presence in Pyongyang—severely limiting consular help.
Although few Australians currently do business in North Korea, the advisory matters to mobility planners because any travel—even on tightly choreographed humanitarian or media visits—requires visas obtained in a third country such as China and carries significant detention risk.
![‘Do Not Travel’ warning for North Korea reconfirmed in Smartraveller’s 19 February update]()
For travelers who must navigate this complex visa environment, VisaHQ’s Australia portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) offers clear, current guidance on DPRK visa procedures, connections to experienced agents, and advice on necessary transit documentation—resources that can save valuable time and reduce administrative uncertainty before any mission.
The update also reminds dual nationals that North Korea does not recognise dual citizenship, and that satellite phones, religious literature and unapproved photography can trigger arrest.
Corporates with regional security responsibilities should ensure that North Korea remains on their internal “red list” for travel approvals and that insurance policies explicitly exclude the destination. The update coincides with revived interest from certain NGOs and commodity traders in rare-earth projects across the Korean Peninsula—activities that now require even more rigorous due diligence.
Although few Australians currently do business in North Korea, the advisory matters to mobility planners because any travel—even on tightly choreographed humanitarian or media visits—requires visas obtained in a third country such as China and carries significant detention risk.
For travelers who must navigate this complex visa environment, VisaHQ’s Australia portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) offers clear, current guidance on DPRK visa procedures, connections to experienced agents, and advice on necessary transit documentation—resources that can save valuable time and reduce administrative uncertainty before any mission.
The update also reminds dual nationals that North Korea does not recognise dual citizenship, and that satellite phones, religious literature and unapproved photography can trigger arrest.
Corporates with regional security responsibilities should ensure that North Korea remains on their internal “red list” for travel approvals and that insurance policies explicitly exclude the destination. The update coincides with revived interest from certain NGOs and commodity traders in rare-earth projects across the Korean Peninsula—activities that now require even more rigorous due diligence.
