Area Code 27 – Pyongyang
The phone area code for Pyongyang is 27 (international format +85027). Browse local exchange codes (NXX) and carrier assignments below.
📍 Geographic Location of Pyongyang
Geographic Overview
Country code +850 is assigned to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), commonly known as North Korea. Within this national numbering plan, the area code 27 designates the capital city, Pyongyang. This is a geographic prefix, meaning that the number is associated with a fixed line in the Pyongyang metropolitan area. The city is the administrative, political, and cultural center of the country, and this code covers all districts within the city limits, including central areas such as Chung-guyok and Mangyongdae-guyok, as well as suburban zones.
Dialing Formats
To call a landline in Pyongyang from abroad, you must dial the international access prefix of your country (typically 00 or +), followed by the country code 850, then the area code 27, and finally the local subscriber number. For example, a local number 1234567 would be dialed as +850 27 1234567 from an international line. When calling domestically within North Korea from another city, you would dial 027 1234567 (the trunk prefix 0 is used for domestic long-distance calls). Within Pyongyang itself, only the seven-digit subscriber number is dialed: 1234567.
Numbering Structure
The North Korean numbering plan uses a closed format for geographic numbers. The area code 27 is followed by a seven-digit subscriber number, making the total national significant number (NSN) length ten digits (including the leading 0 used domestically). This structure is consistent with ITU-T E.164 recommendations, which specify a maximum of 15 digits for international numbers, but North Korea uses a shorter format. The subscriber numbers are allocated to fixed-line services, including PSTN and some VoIP services that are geographically tied to the capital.
Calling Instructions
For international callers, it is crucial to omit the domestic trunk prefix 0 when dialing +850 27. For example, if the domestic number is 027 1234567, the international format is +850 27 1234567. Callers from outside North Korea should also be aware that international calling to the DPRK is subject to strict telecommunications regulations, and calls may be monitored or restricted. For callers within North Korea, the use of the area code is mandatory when dialing from one province to another, but local calls within Pyongyang can be made using only the seven-digit number.
Technical Considerations
Geographic area codes in North Korea are managed by the government's Post and Telecommunications Corporation. The network infrastructure is outdated compared to international standards, and international call quality may vary. VoIP services are not widely available to the public, and most international traffic is routed through state-controlled gateways. When storing numbers in a phone book or CRM, it is recommended to use the international format +850 27 XXXX XXX to ensure proper dialing from abroad.