License plate (North Korea)
The license plate of North Korea usually use Korean letters and Arabic numerals. The registration system is similar to the South Korean system until 2006 and the Japanese one . Buses and trucks must repeat the number plate inscription in enlarged characters on the rear of the vehicle.
License plate types
Private vehicles
The few private vehicles registered in North Korea have orange license plates with black lettering. First the name of the approval region appears, possibly shortened to two syllables . Older approvals are followed by three or four digits, newer approvals show two and, after a hyphen, another three digits. If the vehicle is registered to a foreigner living in North Korea, the letters 외 (for foreigners) appear instead of the provincial abbreviation .
Sample of a license plate issued in Pyongyang (평양) before 1992 :
평양 1450 |
Sample of a license plate issued after 1992 in the province of P'yŏngan-namdo (평남):
평남 68-366 |
State vehicles
State vehicles have white license plates with black inscription. They start with the letters for the corresponding city or province. This is followed by a two-digit number by means of which the vehicle can be assigned to a state institution. A hyphen is followed by a maximum of five further digits, the first of which provides information about the type of vehicle.
List of vehicle types:
Digit | Vehicle type |
---|---|
1 | bus |
2xx | taxi |
2xxx (x) | Car |
3 | truck |
5 | Ambulance / fire brigade |
6th | Police / authorities |
7th | Two-wheelers |
Example of a license plate number for buses (1) issued in Pyongyang (평양):
평양 88-123 |
Example of a truck registration number (3) issued in the province of Hamgyŏng-pukto (함북):
함북 20-368 |
Identification for foreign companies
Vehicles from foreign companies and joint ventures have a red background and white text. The signs begin with the letters 외 (for foreigners) and otherwise follow the same structure as the license plates of state vehicles.
Special Purpose Marks
License plates with a red star and a three-digit number are given to special vehicles that are used, for example, to transport tourists and high-ranking personalities.
Diplomatic plates
Diplomatic license plates show white signs on a blue background. They start with the letter 외 . This is followed by a two-digit number that encrypts the country of origin of the relevant mission. A hyphen is followed by a serial number with a maximum of three digits.
Sample of a diplomatic license plate issued to the Hungarian embassy (07):
외 07-151 |
military
Korean People's Army vehicles have black license plates and white letters. The signs usually consist of Arabic numerals, which are divided into two groups by a hyphen. Some signs also begin with the letter ㄱ . For tanks and other heavy military equipment, the combination is painted directly on the vehicle or sprayed using stencils.
5581-4218 |
Trolleybuses
Trolleybuses have white license plates with three black digits. Since the vehicles do not leave the operational areas, the same signs are issued in different cities.
903 |
Special case of Kŭmgang-san
Special license plates are issued in the Kŭmgang-san tourist region on the border with South Korea. They show white letters on a green background. The word Kŭmgang-san appears first in Korean letters (금강산) followed by four digits.
금강산 2-426 |
Abbreviation
Abbreviation | province |
---|---|
자강 | Chagang-do |
함북 | Hamgyŏng-pukto |
함남 | Hamgyŏng-namdo |
황북 | Hwanghae-pukto |
황남 | Hwanghae-namdo |
개성 | City of Kaesŏng |
강원 | Kangwon-do |
남포 | City of Namp'o |
평북 | P'yŏngan-pukto |
평남 | P'yŏngan-namdo |
평양 | Pyongyang city |
량강 | Ryanggang-do |
라선 | City of Rason (until 2000 Rajin-Sŏnbong) |
Individual evidence
- ^ License Plates of North Korea
- ^ Photo by Raymond Cunningham, September 19, 2011
- ↑ Photo by Roman Harak of September 6, 2010