Plizio Visual Lab

Kusong

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

City

—°1

ℹ️

Practical info — Kusong

▾

🌤 Weather — 5 days

📍 Nearby

Sights nearby

💡 Tips

Kusong is highly sensitive due to its defense industry and is almost entirely closed to foreign tourists. Any visit is a rare exception.
Strict obedience to your guides is paramount here. Do not stray from the group or point your camera at any unauthorized building.
Discussions regarding the local industry or military are heavily discouraged; stick to polite, general topics with your guides.
Infrastructure for tourists is virtually non-existent; expect very basic accommodation if staying overnight.
Bring all personal medications and snacks, as there are no tourist shops available outside of your hotel.

🍽 Food

🍽

Guesthouse Set Menu

Dining will be exclusively at your assigned government guesthouse, featuring standard Korean dishes like kimchi, rice, and basic proteins.

🍽

Tofu and Bean Paste Stew

A hearty, typical North Korean dish often served to visitors in provincial areas.

🍽

Local beer

You may be able to purchase domestic North Korean beer at the guesthouse bar.

🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots

🛍

Basic hotel shop

Shopping opportunities are extremely limited, likely restricted to a small counter at the guesthouse selling basic necessities and maybe a few postcards.

🛍

Propaganda art

Standard state-approved posters might be available for purchase.

🧘

Guesthouse interior

Your movement will be heavily restricted, so your room or the guesthouse lobby will be your primary quiet spots.

🧘

Supervised countryside stop

If traveling by road, guides may allow a brief, strictly monitored rest stop in the rural surroundings.

Kusong is a city in North Pyongan province that plays a central and secret role in North Korea's military and nuclear program. The city and its surroundings are home to numerous arms industry facilities, including test sites for ballistic missiles and possibly sites related to uranium enrichment. Many of these facilities are built underground to protect them from foreign surveillance and potential attacks. Because of this strategic importance, Kusong is virtually inaccessible to outsiders, especially foreigners. In addition to its military function, Kusong is also a center for mechanical engineering and light industry. The city is located in a hilly region and is connected to the railway network, which is crucial for the transport of military goods and personnel.