Country code: 850. Some hotels in Pyongyang provide direct international calls although this may be expensive.

Limited GSM 900 network. SUNNET is the only network provider.

Access to the Internet is unavailable.

Services are extremely slow and limited outside the capital. Airmail takes about 10 days to reach Western Europe.

Post office hours: Mon-Sat 0900-2100.

Radio and TV sets in Korea (Dem Rep) are pre-tuned to government stations with Kim Jong-il propaganda. Press outlets and broadcasters are all under direct state control. The country's economic hardships or famines are not reported. However, after the historic Korean summit in Pyongyang in 2000, media outlets toned down their fierce denunciations of the Seoul government. Ordinary Koreans (Dem Rep) caught listening to foreign broadcasts risk harsh punishments, such as forced labour.

• Rodong Sinmun (Labour Daily) is the organ of the Korean Workers' Party.
• Other publications include Joson Inmingun (Korean People's Army Daily), Minju Choson (Democratic Korea), which is government owned and Rodongja Sinmum (Workers' Newspaper), the organ of the trade union federation.

• Korean Central TV is the TV channel of the Korean Workers' Party.
• Mansudae TV is a cultural channel.

• Korean Central Broadcasting Station is the radio station of the Korean Workers' Party.
• Voice of Korea is a state-run external service, via shortwave.