Cremation and ashes transport

Cremation in North Korea and bringing ashes home

Cremation availability for foreign nationals is unknown. Full body repatriation assumed in all cases. This page sets out what North Korea requires, and what to check before you decide.

Send an enquiry Full repatriation guide for North Korea

Cremation in North Korea

Can you cremate someone in North Korea?

Cremation availability for foreign nationals is unknown. Full body repatriation assumed in all cases.

Religious context: Officially atheist state. Traditional Korean religious practices exist covertly. No religious requirements for repatriation.

Weighing cremation abroad against bringing your loved one home intact? How families decide between the two.

Who must release the body

Korean People's Internal Security Forces; Ministry of People's Security civil registration

Documentation language

Korean

Airline guidance

Can you carry ashes on the flight home?

Routing out of North Korea: Air Koryo operates Pyongyang to Beijing (PEK). Only viable international routing is via China. Access severely restricted.

Departure airports: FNJ (Pyongyang Sunan International)

Airline rules that apply on any route.

What affects the cost from North Korea

We do not publish a figure, because it turns on the specifics of the case. For North Korea the things that move it are:

Distance from where the death happened to the nearest crematorium
Whether Korean People's Internal Security Forces; Ministry of People's Security civil registration has to release the case first
Translation, since documentation is in Korean
Routing home. Air Koryo operates Pyongyang to Beijing (PEK). Only viable international routing is via China. Access severely restricted.
Whether you carry the ashes yourself or need them shipped

Considering full repatriation instead?

Some families decide they want their loved one brought home intact. The full North Korea guide sets out that process.

Full repatriation guide for North Korea

First steps guide

What to do if someone dies in North Korea

The step-by-step first response guide covers the first 24 hours in North Korea.

Sources: FCDO: death abroad · FCDO travel advice · Repatriation from North Korea

Talk to us about cremation in North Korea

We deal with Korean People's Internal Security Forces; Ministry of People's Security civil registration and the local funeral directors directly. Tell us what has happened and we will take it from there.