Pyongyang

Asia • Pyongyang

North Korea

Current local time

13:14:00

Sunday, May 31, 2026

UTC offset

UTC+09:00

No daylight saving changes

Pyongyang does not observe daylight saving time. Clocks stay on UTC+09:00 all year long.

Timezone details

Identifier
Abbreviation
—
Transitioned
May 31, 2021 at 10:00 AM
Featured city
Pyongyang

Location

Latitude
39.01666
Longitude
125.75
Country
North Korea

Korean Standard Time (KST)

FAQs

Korean Standard Time keeps both North and South Korea ticking in lockstep at UTC+09:00, offering a shared, clockwork rhythm that quietly shapes everything from media releases to daily life across two very different societies.

  • Do North and South Korea share the same time zone?

    Yes—both Pyongyang and Seoul use UTC+09:00 as of 2022, meaning they are on the same clock despite political separation. Historically, North Korea briefly used UTC+08:30 (Pyongyang Time) from 2015–2018 before syncing back.

  • Does Korean Standard Time observe daylight saving time?

    No. KST does not observe daylight saving time, so the offset stays constant throughout the year.

  • Why was Pyongyang Time (UTC+08:30) briefly used?

    North Korea created Pyongyang Time in 2015 as a symbolic move to mark a historical anniversary. It reverted to UTC+09:00 in 2018 to align again with South Korea, partly to ease cross-border cooperation.

  • Which countries officially use KST?

    Korean Standard Time is used by North Korea (Asia/Pyongyang) and South Korea (Asia/Seoul).

  • How does KST compare to major Asian time zones?

    KST aligns with Japan Standard Time (JST) and one hour behind Some eastern regions like western Australia (UTC+08:00). It places Korea firmly in the daylight-friendly advanced schedule of East Asia, with sunrise relatively early in summer.

  • Why did North Korea revert from Pyongyang Time to KST?

    North Korea reverted in mid-2018, reportedly to facilitate practical coordination with South Korea and reduce operational complications. The move aligns Pyongyang with Seoul’s clock (and the broader regional framework).

  • Why is Korean Standard Time set at UTC+09:00?

    The UTC+09:00 offset centers the time zone near the 135°E meridian, closely matching the solar noon for the Korean Peninsula and aligning with regional neighbors like Japan.

  • Is Korean Standard Time the same as Japan Standard Time?

    Yes, KST and JST both use UTC+09:00 and do not observe daylight saving, so clocks in South Korea, North Korea, and Japan are synchronized.