Broadcasting and News 廣播及新聞

      Pyongyang Times is the unique English newspaper. Radio Broadcasting is mainly in Korean only.  Korean TV has 2 channels in PAL systems, however they are still mainly in Korean only. Keasong has an NTSC channel, but still in Korean.  TV broadcasting time from 17:00 to 23:00, only one TV channel works in weekdays, the second TV channel is working in weed ends only, offers soap drama from Chinese TV.

    只有一份英文報紙；收音機廣播主要是朝鮮語；朝鮮的電視只有兩個PAL制式的朝鮮語頻道，平安南道開城市則多一個NTSC制式的朝鮮語頻道。 平日只有一個電視頻道由17:00至23:00廣播，周末時才兩個頻道廣播，播送中國製作的連續劇。

      Only in a few DPRK hotels has satellite TV, says: Koryo Hotel, Yanggakdo International Hotel, Potonggang Hotel or Emperor Hotel & Casino.  You can enjoy: Chinese CCTV, Japanese NHK, British BBC and US CNN.

     只有少數朝鮮飯店安裝衛星電視系統，例如：平壤的高麗飯店、羊角島國際飯店及普通江飯店，羅先市的英皇娛樂酒店，下榻在這類飯店才能欣賞中國中央電視臺、大日本放送局、英國廣播公司及美國新聞網絡的電視節目。

Calendar 主體曆

The Juche year refers to the calendar introduced in DPRK in 1997 that begins with the

year of Kim Il Sung’s birth in 1912; Juche is the name of self-reliance, say 2004 is

Juche 93.
主體年曆從1997年開始在朝鮮通行，『主體』的意思是『自力更生』，它以金日成將軍的出生

年份1912年為開始，例如公元2004年便是主體93年。 

Electricity 電力

      Voltage 電壓：220V，Frequency 頻率：60Hz

Exchange 匯兌

      KPW is the abbreviation of Korean dollar. KP is the country code of Democratic People's Republic of Korea; W is stand for Won, 1 KPW is divided into 100 Jon.  You can change money in Sunan International airport, hotel, railway station, department stores or Trade Bank, it is in Sungni Street, near the Kim Il Sung Square, it open from 9:00 to 12:00 and 2:00 to 17:00, except Sunday.

    朝鮮圜的代號是KPW，其中KP是朝鮮民主主義人民共和國的國家代碼，W代表圜(Won)，而 1 KPW 可換成 100角(Jon)。匯兌的地點可在平壤順安國際機場、平壤火車站、飯店、百貨商店或朝鮮貿易銀行(位於勝利大街，鄰近金日成廣場) ，朝鮮貿易銀行營業的時間是 9:00至12:00 及 14:00至17:00，星期日停止營業。

The following link can check the rate of North Korean Won(KPW) 以下網站提供朝鮮圜(KPW)的匯率資訊：

Health Care 醫療設施

Red Cross General Hospital of Korea 朝鮮紅十字綜合醫院

East-Pyongyang 東平壤

Telephone : (850) (02) 621-1110

Pyongyang First Aid Hospital 平壤市救急醫院

Telephone : (850) (02) 22758

Pyongyang Foreigners’ Hospital 平壤外國人醫院

Telephone : (850) (02) 22160

Kim Man Yu Hospital 金萬有醫院

East-Pyongyang 東平壤

Telephone : (850) (02) 621-3111

Pyongyang Friendship Hospital 平壤友誼醫院

Telephone : (850) (02) 621-6145

IDD Phone Srevice  國際直撥電話服務

      In Korea, if you want to use IDD to dial back, you should dial:

(a) For Hong Kong, China 撥電到中國香港特別行政區：Di

In north: 99 + 852 + Hong Kong Telephone Number

In south: 001 + 852 + Hong Kong Telephone Number

(b) For Taipei city, Taiwan province, China 撥電到中國臺灣省臺北市：i

In north: 99 + 886 + 2 + Taipei Telephone Number

In south: 001 + 886 + 2 + Taipei Telephone Number

(c) For Beijing, China 撥電到中國北京市：

In north: 99 + 86 + 10 + Beijing Telephone Number

In south: 001 + 86 + 10 + Beijing Telephone Number

Insurance 保險

Korea Foreign Insurance Company 朝鮮國際保險公司

Telephone : (850) (02) 45477 or 45217

Telex：36014 or 5464  

Korea International Travel Company 朝鮮國際旅行社

Telephone : (850) (02) 35940 or 35341

Telex：5998 RHS KP  

Internet 國際互聯網

      Korea Computer Company and a Germen join venture to develop internet network in February, 2004, this scheme will install a satellite network between Pyongyang and Berlin, this system has a filter, it is similar to Chinese or Cuban network, let Korean keep clear from the hazard of erotic and wrong information.    Pyongyang has an 24 hours internet bar, it is located in Munsu street, east district, just at the rear of Iranian embassy, 2 stories building, 40m², it has 6 sets of computers, using Window 2000 as operating system, you can type in Chinese, English, Korean or Japanese. when download a 3.7M bytes programme, it takes 2 minutes, 1 hour service for US$10(November, 2003), however, still have so many college guy come there for net game.

       朝鮮電子計算機中心跟德國投資者簽定合作協議，在2004年建立國際衛星互聯網絡連接平壤與柏林，這系統設有類似中國及古巴的訊息過濾系統，保障朝鮮人民不受色情及不良訊息所危害。  朝鮮設有一所小時營運的網吧，它位於東區紋繡大街，伊朗大使館的後街，兩層樓的建築物，面積約40m²，設有6臺電子計算機，採用Window 2000作業系統，可使用簡體漢字、英文、朝鮮文及日本文，下載3.7M bytes的程式需時約2分鐘，使用一小時的服務費約為10美元(2003年11月)，可是仍然吸引了大群大學生來玩網上遊戲。

Mobile Phone Srevice  行動電話服務

      Korea uses GSM system that is widely used in the world. Mobile phone service is started in August, 2002, however, unit price is still over US$750, and always out of stock, it is still not so popular to low level Korean.

       朝鮮民主義人民共和國採用大多數國家使用的GSM流動通訊制式，來建設全國行動電話通訊網絡。但此項服務啟行一年來，行動電話價格仍高企在750美元，加上通訊設施和產品供應數量有限，相信普羅平壤市民在短期內難以使用這種通訊服務。

       In August,2002, mobile phone is just installed in Rajin Sonbong special economic district, and limited to hold by the officers from party committee, policeman and information department, and extends to all Pyongyang citizens in May, 2003.

    朝鮮民主義人民共和國的行動電話服務於2002年8月啟用。最初只限羅津和先鋒的經濟特區，而且僅容許黨人民委員會、人民保安省(警察)、國家安全保衛部(情報機關)的高級幹部使用。但自2003年5月起，已放寬至批准所有平壤市民使用。

      In August, 2003, over 20,000 Pyongyang citizens applied mobile phone service, and it is predicted to over 100,000 by the end of 2003, Korean government set up transceivers in each provinces, so that mobile service can be used in whole Korea by 2007. In 2003, mobile phone can be used in Pyongyang, Nampho, Kaesong and Rajin Sonbong special economic district only.

    在2003年8月，已有2萬多名市民使用行動電話服務，預計2003年底可增至10萬多戶，朝鮮政府並在各道建設電訊轉發塔，計劃到2007年，行動電話通訊就能通行全國。在2003年，行動電話通訊覆蓋區域僅及羅津、先鋒和新義州經濟特區、平壤及其附近地帶如南浦、開城等主要都市。 

      In Korea provide Finn made Nokia phone unit, who pay US$750 for the unit and connection charge, everybody can use mobile phone. 

    朝鮮供應的行動電話是中高檔的芬蘭製造的諾基亞(Nokia)牌，連上臺費高達750美元，誰人有錢都可以購買。 

      In order to meet the demand from Korean young generation,  the mobile phone price is reduced from US$1,000 in 2002. It becomes US$750 in June, 2003. dial charge is 3 KPW.  Young generation like to hold a mobile, Korea has a few thousands mobile phone units in 2002, but she imports 30,000 sets from China in March, 2003, and some mechedisers bring in a lot. Pyongyang has 3,000 public cable telephone sets, south Korean has persuaded north Korean to use southern CDMA system, so as to export more south Korean mobile products, however, North Korea government adopt Thai proposal, using international GSM system, so that directly connect to over 200 countries.

    由於朝鮮的年輕人追捧行動電話，逼使需求增加，雖然朝鮮民主義人民共和國行動電話價格已由最初時的1000美元一部回落，可是以2004年3月時的1美元兌2.2朝鮮圜的匯率計算，750美元的行動電話費約等如1,660朝鮮圜，另外每次通話費還要付3朝鮮圜。朝鮮民主義人民共和國的年輕人之間卻興起了一股行動電話熱。在2002年底朝鮮民主義人民共和國行動電話只有幾千部，而2003年3月已從中國進口了3萬部，估計上臺人士將大幅增加。此外，走水貨的人仍常會帶幾部行動電話入朝鮮民主義人民共和國。據2002年中的資料，朝鮮民主義人民共和國的電話線路，平壤的公共電話有3,000餘部。南朝鮮情報通訊部和民間機構SK Telecom等在2002年曾組團北上，積極游說朝鮮民主義人民共和國沿用南朝鮮通行的CDMA行動電話制式，力謀開拓北方市場。

不過，朝鮮政府後來還是與泰國的洛士利集團合作，採用GSM制式。此制式既可供國際漫遊，又可用於電腦上網，這種網絡目前有超過200個亞歐國家使用。

Tourist can buy a mobile phone prepaid card in Pyongyang and Rajin. Korean use 7 digits mobile phone number, say: (850) 193-XXXX.

旅客可以在平壤市或羅先市的國際通訊中心購買儲值通話卡，朝鮮使用位數字行動電話號碼，例如： (850) 193-XXXX。

Postal Service 通信

      Telegram and Facsimile can be used in International Communication Centre or Hotels. Local call through Pyongyang public telephone kiosk needs 10 Jon.

    電報及圖文傳真可於國際通訊中心及飯店發出。在平壤市的公共電話亭打出平壤市內電話需要10角(Jon)。

USA DHL Office in Pyongyang 美商敦豪快遞駐平壤辦事處

Korea Foreign Transportation Corporation,  Sungri Street, Jung Song Dong, Central District, Pyongyang

平壤市，中區，中城洞，勝利大街，朝鮮外國運輸公司

Monday to Friday星期一至星期五：09:30-17:30

Telephone : (850) (02) 381-8053

Religion 宗教信仰  

        Religion is free in Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Buddhist and Taoist are majority, however still has a little Catholic and Christian can be found. Caritas serve in some part of Korea. Korea has 3,800 Catholic and 12,000 Christian.

    朝鮮民主義人民共和國的人民是自由選擇宗教信仰。當然傳統的佛教及道教佔大多數，然而亦有天主教徒及基督教徒，朝鮮某些地區甚至有天主教明愛機構的服務單位。 朝鮮有3,800位天主教徒及12,000位基督教徒。

Wage 工資

      A Chinese journalist list out Korean wage in March, 2004:

General Labour and Officer 一般勞工及幹部： 2,000-2500 KPW

Officer 一般幹部: 2,000 KPW

Department Head and Professionals 局長及專業人員： 3,000-4,000 KPW

University Professor w/o doctorate 沒有博士銜頭的大學教授： 4,000-5,000 KPW

University Professor with doctorate 持有博士銜頭的大學教授： 7,000-8,000 KPW

Senior Journalist 高級記者： 3,000 KPW

Retired General 退休將軍： 8,000 KPW 

      It seems fair, compare with Korean living standard, however, Korea has free medical, education welfare, and retired funding, all wage can be used.  By the way DPRK is also a tax free country,  so it claim itself as Labour Paradise.

    一位中國記者在2004年3月報導了朝鮮人的工資，數據顯示工資能應付生活所需，然而朝鮮設有免費醫療、義務教育及退休金等褔利，而且不需要納稅，所有工資均可全數運用，所以朝鮮自稱為勞動者的天堂。