Current Time in Asia/Pyongyang Time Zone
IANA Name: Asia/Pyongyang
Standard Offset: UTC +09:00
Daylight Saving: No
Currently Observing DST: No ❌
Asia/Pyongyang Time Zone: North Korea's Fixed UTC+09:00
The Asia/Pyongyang time zone is the official time zone of North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea). It uses Korea Standard Time (KST), which is UTC+09:00 year-round with no daylight saving time. This zone applies only to North Korea, anchored by its capital, Pyongyang.
Overview and Scope
Asia/Pyongyang is one of the IANA time zones representing North Korea. It is used exclusively within the country's borders. The zone's standard offset is UTC+09:00, identical to South Korea (Asia/Seoul), Japan (Asia/Tokyo), and parts of Russia and Indonesia. However, North Korea does not observe daylight saving time, so the offset remains constant throughout the year.
Offset and Abbreviation
The abbreviation for this zone is KST (Korea Standard Time). The offset of UTC+09:00 means that when it is noon in Pyongyang, it is 03:00 UTC. This offset places North Korea 9 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time.
Daylight Saving Time
North Korea does not observe daylight saving time. The country has not changed its clocks since 2015, when it briefly adopted UTC+08:30 (Pyongyang Time) from August 2015 to May 2018, before reverting to UTC+09:00. Since then, the offset has been fixed year-round. There are no seasonal clock changes, making scheduling straightforward.
Countries and Cities
The only country using Asia/Pyongyang is North Korea. Major cities include Pyongyang (capital), Hamhung, Chongjin, Nampo, Wonsan, Sinuiju, and Kaesong. All cities in North Korea share the same time zone.
Business Hours and Scheduling
With a fixed UTC+09:00 offset, North Korea's business hours (typically 09:00–17:00 KST) align with those in South Korea, Japan, and eastern Russia. For scheduling calls with Western countries, note the time difference: when it is 09:00 in Pyongyang, it is 00:00 UTC, which is 19:00 the previous day in New York (EST, UTC-5) during standard time, or 20:00 EDT during daylight saving time. For London (GMT/UTC), 09:00 KST is 00:00 UTC, so calls are best scheduled in the morning or late afternoon.
Common overlaps for business: 09:00–12:00 KST (00:00–03:00 UTC) overlaps with late afternoon in North America, while 13:00–17:00 KST (04:00–08:00 UTC) overlaps with early morning in Europe. For Australia (AEST, UTC+10), Pyongyang is one hour behind, so 09:00 KST is 10:00 AEST.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current time in Asia/Pyongyang?
The current time in Asia/Pyongyang is always UTC+09:00. You can check a world clock for the exact time, but it is always 9 hours ahead of UTC.
Does North Korea observe daylight saving time?
No, North Korea does not observe daylight saving time. The clock remains at UTC+09:00 all year.
Is Asia/Pyongyang the same as Asia/Seoul?
Yes, both zones use UTC+09:00 year-round, so they share the same local time. However, they are separate IANA zones because they apply to different countries.
When did North Korea change its time zone last?
North Korea last changed its time zone in May 2018, when it reverted from UTC+08:30 (Pyongyang Time) back to UTC+09:00 (KST).
What is the best time to call Pyongyang from New York?
New York is 13 or 14 hours behind Pyongyang depending on daylight saving time. A good time is 09:00–11:00 KST, which is 20:00–22:00 EST (previous day) or 21:00–23:00 EDT.
Does Asia/Pyongyang cover all of North Korea?
Yes, the entire country of North Korea uses Asia/Pyongyang time. There are no other time zones within the country.