Area Code 61 – Sinuiju

Overview of Area Code 61 (Sinuiju)

Area code 61 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the city of Sinuiju (신의주), the capital of North Pyongan Province in North Korea. Sinuiju is a major border city located on the Yalu River, directly opposite Dandong, China, and serves as an important administrative, industrial, and transportation hub in the northwestern part of the country.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The code covers the urban area of Sinuiju and its immediate administrative subdivisions. As a geographic code, it is tied to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) infrastructure within this specific region. Calls to landlines in Sinuiju are routed through the national fixed-line network of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), which is managed by the state-run Korea Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (KPTC).

Dialing Formats and Number Structure

North Korean telephone numbers are structured according to ITU-T E.164 recommendations. The national significant number (NSN) for Sinuiju landlines consists of the area code 61 followed by a subscriber number of 6 to 7 digits, resulting in a total NSN length of 8 to 9 digits. The international format is:

• +850 61 XXX XXXX (from abroad)
• 061 XXX XXXX (domestic long-distance, with trunk prefix 0)
• 61 XXX XXXX (local calls within Sinuiju, omitting the trunk prefix)

For example, a typical Sinuiju landline number might be +850 61 234 5678. When dialing from outside North Korea, callers must replace the international access code (00 or +) with the country code 850, then dial 61 followed by the subscriber number. From within North Korea, callers must first dial the trunk prefix 0 to access the national long-distance network, then the area code 61 and the local number.

Caller Instructions

For international callers: Dial your country's international exit code (e.g., 011 from the US, 00 from most European countries), then 850 (North Korea's country code), then 61, and finally the local subscriber number. Do not include the leading '0' of the domestic trunk prefix.

For domestic callers outside Sinuiju: Dial 0, then 61, then the local subscriber number. For callers within Sinuiju, local calls can be made by dialing only the subscriber number, depending on the local network configuration.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

As of the latest available data, there are no overlay area codes in North Korea. The numbering plan is strictly geographic, and each city or region has a unique NDC. The area code 61 is exclusively used for Sinuiju and its surrounding areas. No mobile or non-geographic services are assigned to this code; mobile numbers in North Korea use separate prefixes (e.g., 191 for Koryolink, 192 for Kang Song Mobile).

Given the limited international connectivity and the country's isolation, calls to North Korea may face routing restrictions or require operator assistance. It is advisable to check with your service provider for any special requirements or restrictions before attempting to call.