LegalityAlcohol in North Korea, full detail →Cannabis / THC in North Korea, full detail →Pink Cocaine / Tusi in North Korea, full detail →
Legal status in North Korea
Per-substance legal status for North Korea, from sourced statutes where available. Legal information, not legal advice; drug laws change, so confirm with the destination’s embassy or drug authority before you travel.
Confirmed legal status
Alcohol
- Legal status
- Legal, alcohol (ethanol) is a legal, state-produced beverage (soju, Taedonggang beer), not a controlled drug.
- Consequences if caught
- No penalty for consumption; production and distribution are state-run.
- If prescribed / medical
- n/a, a beverage, not a medicine.
- Documentation
- Available through state shops, restaurants and hotels; domestically produced and consumed.
who.int · The Criminal Code of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, in its 2013 revision and later amendments, is the governing instrument recorded in the sibling cells of this table, and naming later amendments in that form is not a statement of which version was read. No version was recorded when this cell was authored on 14 July 2026, and that does not rule out a later amendment made or commenced since. · Updated September 21, 2026
Cannabis / THC
- Legal status
- Cannabis is a controlled drug under the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments), no legal recreational or medical regime, and serious drug offences are treated as grave crimes; the specific article is left to confirmation against the current Criminal Code; the maximum penalty is imprisonment or corrective labour.
- Consequences if caught
- Capital exposure: not established for this substance. North Korea retains the death penalty for drug offences, under the DPRK Criminal Code, 2013 revision and later amendments, for the gravest drug production and trafficking offences, and that much is established here. What is not established is this substance's own position under it: the source read here gives neither the article that would carry it nor any quantity at which it would apply. No threshold is stated in this cell because none was established. Do not read the absence of a figure as a safe amount. The country level position is the one to act on, and the substance specific position has to be settled against the current instrument.
- If prescribed / medical
- Not a prescribed traveller medicine in this form.
- Documentation
- In North Korea, drugs fall under the Criminal Code of the DPRK (2013 revision and later amendments). lower-level offences carry imprisonment or corrective labour. independent verification is constrained by extreme state opacity, and the specific Criminal Code article is left to confirmation against the current statute. A primary statute portal for DPRK law was not located; this cell is sourced via the Library of Congress Global Legal Monitor (loc.gov) and the UNODC legal database, with Harm Reduction International as a corroborating record. Cannabis is a controlled drug under the same Criminal Code, with no legal recreational or medical regime. Carry any controlled medicine with its prescription and confirm requirements with your embassy before travel.
Criminal Code of the DPRK (2013 revision and later amendments) · loc.gov · unodc.org · Updated September 20, 2026
Pink Cocaine / Tusi
- Legal status
- Pink cocaine (tusi) is not scheduled as such; it is a variable mixture (typically ketamine + MDMA) prosecuted through its constituents, the DPRK controls MDMA under the Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments), which reaches serious drug production and trafficking. Because the blend varies batch to batch, exposure follows the most-severely-controlled component, so an MDMA-containing tusi sample carries capital exposure.
- Consequences if caught
- An MDMA-positive mixture engages serious drug-production and trafficking provisions of the DPRK Criminal Code that are capital-eligible, with the death penalty available for grave offences.
- If prescribed / medical
- No lawful supply of the mixture; MDMA has no accepted medical use, and ketamine, where present, would be a controlled medicine.
- Documentation
- Sold as a party powder of unknown makeup; because the blend varies batch to batch, buyers cannot know whether death-eligible MDMA is present, so capital-level legal exposure under the DPRK Criminal Code is unknowable at purchase.
loc.gov · The Criminal Code of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, in its 2013 revision and later amendments, is the governing instrument recorded in the sibling cells of this table, and naming later amendments in that form is not a statement of which version was read. No version was recorded when this cell was authored on 14 July 2026, and that does not rule out a later amendment made or commenced since. · Updated September 21, 2026
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Not individually verified
85 substances are not individually verified for North Korea
For these the governing national drug law is cited, but we have not verified that the substance specifically is scheduled under it. Treat them as unanswered, not as legal. Confirm with North Korea’s drug authority or your embassy.
| Substance | What we found |
|---|---|
| 1P-LSD | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| 2-FDCK | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| 25I-NBOMe | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| 2C-B | Not confirmed. The status of 2C-B in North Korea was not established on this record. The specific article of the... |
| 2C-E | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| 2C-I | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| 2C-T-7 | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| 3-MMC | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| 4-AcO-DMT | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| 4-HO-MET | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| 5-MeO-DMT (Bufo / Toad) | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| 6-APB | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Adderall | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Amanita muscaria | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Amphetamine | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Amyl Nitrite | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Ayahuasca | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Barbiturates | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Benzodiazepines | Not confirmed. The status of benzodiazepines in North Korea was not established on this record. The specific article... |
| Buprenorphine | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Caffeine | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Cannabinol | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Cathinone | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| CBD | Not confirmed. This record says that CBD has no lawful consumer framework in North Korea and that narcotics are... |
| Clonazepam | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Cocaine | Not confirmed. The status of cocaine in North Korea was not established on this record. The specific article of the... |
| Codeine | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Crack Cocaine | Not confirmed. This record treats crack as the freebase form of cocaine, with no separate legal identity in North... |
| Delta-8-THC | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Diazepam | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| DMT | Not confirmed. The status of DMT in North Korea was not established on this record. The specific article of the... |
| DOM | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| DXM | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Ephedrine | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Etizolam | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Fentanyl | Not confirmed. The status of fentanyl in North Korea was not established on this record. The specific article of the... |
| Gabapentin | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| GBL | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| GHB | Not confirmed. The status of GHB in North Korea was not established on this record. The specific article of the... |
| Heroin | Not confirmed. The status of heroin in North Korea was not established on this record. The specific article of the... |
| HHC | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Hydrocodone | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Ketamine | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Khat | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Kratom | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Lorazepam | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| LSA (Morning Glory) | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| LSD | Not confirmed. The status of LSD in North Korea was not established on this record. The specific article of the... |
| MDA | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| MDMA | Not confirmed. The status of MDMA in North Korea was not established on this record. The specific article of the... |
| MDPV | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Memantine | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Mephedrone (4-MMC) | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Mescaline | Not confirmed. The status of mescaline in North Korea was not established on this record. The specific article of... |
| Methadone | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Methamphetamine | Not confirmed. The status of methamphetamine in North Korea was not established on this record. The specific article... |
| Methaqualone (Quaaludes) | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Methylone | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Methylphenidate | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Mitragynine | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Modafinil | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Morphine | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| MXE | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Nicotine | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Nimetazepam | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Nitrous Oxide | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Opium | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Oxycodone | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| PCP | Not confirmed. The status of PCP in North Korea was not established on this record. The specific article of the... |
| Peyote | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Phenibut | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Poppers | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Pregabalin | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Psilocybin | Not confirmed. The status of psilocybin in North Korea was not established on this record. The specific article of... |
| Quetiapine | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Salvia divinorum | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Scopolamine (Devil's Breath) | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Synthetic Cannabinoids (K2 / Spice) | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| THC-P | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Tobacco | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Tramadol | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Xanax (Alprazolam) | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Xylazine | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
| Zolpidem | Not confirmed, the DPRK Criminal Code (2013 revision and later amendments) is the governing drug law; the specific... |
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary by country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with the destination’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.
Before you travel
Verify current rules with the destination country’s official drug authority and your own country’s embassy before traveling. Find the destination’s U.S. embassy & official country guidance →
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If you’re detained or arrested abroad
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