Wiktor Wise
North Korea has been facing electricity shortages for decades, with rolling blackouts affecting even the capital, Pyongyang. While the country has implemented various power production projects, including the construction of large hydropower plants, small- and medium-sized power plants, and renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, the majority of North Koreans still lack consistent access to electricity. The country's power supply is insufficient to keep the lights on at night, as seen in satellite images, and the uneven distribution of electricity has hindered economic development and kept living standards low. The capital city of Pyongyang has been prioritized for electricity, while rural areas often go without power for long periods. Despite the efforts to improve energy infrastructure, North Korea continues to face significant energy security challenges.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Electricity in North Korea | Chronic energy shortages |
| Primary energy sources | Hydro and coal |
| Electricity access in 2021 | 52.63% of the population |
| Electricity access in 1990 | 1247 kilowatt hours per capita |
| Electricity access in 2000 | 712 kilowatt hours per capita |
| Electricity access in 2015 | Very limited, as seen from NASA satellite images |
| Current status of electricity in Pyongyang | 24/7 electricity access |
| Electricity access in rural areas | Limited, with long stretches without electricity |
| Electricity access for poorest citizens | State-provided electricity once a year |
| Initiatives to improve electricity access | Construction of large hydropower plants, solar panels, and small-medium-sized power plants |
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What You'll Learn
North Korea's energy exports to China
North Korea has been facing electricity shortages for decades, with even the capital city of Pyongyang experiencing rolling blackouts. The country's primary sources of power are hydroelectricity and coal, with a growing focus on solar energy. Despite this, the majority of North Koreans remain severely energy-deprived, and the government has been accused of diverting electricity from rural provinces to keep the capital city powered.
In terms of North Korea's energy exports to China, the relationship is quite significant. China is North Korea's largest international trading partner, and while North Korea imports coal and oil from China, it also exports electricity and iron ore at sub-market "friendship prices". The value of North Korean exports to China has been increasing, with energy and fuels comprising 33% of exports in 2009. North Korea was also, at one point, the world's top exporter of high-grade anthracite coal, with China being the main importer.
The energy trade between the two countries is asymmetrical, with China taking a market-oriented approach, while North Korea's non-military industries are in a state of dilapidation. This has resulted in a trade deficit for North Korea, which reached a 14-year high of $1.3 billion in 2008.
The sale of electricity to China has been cited as one of the reasons for North Korea's domestic power shortages. Despite this, North Korea rarely acknowledges its power problems directly, and state media often reports on increases in output from power stations, giving the impression of a plentiful supply.
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The country's energy sources
North Korea's primary sources of power are coal and hydroelectric power stations. However, the country has been unable to generate enough electricity for its needs for decades, and most North Koreans are severely energy deprived. Many households are restricted to 2 hours of power per day, and some in remote areas may only have power one day a year.
The country has been attempting to address its power shortages with various projects over the years. Under the Agreed Framework of 1994, the United States promised to provide North Korea with two 1-gigawatt light-water nuclear reactors in exchange for Pyongyang abandoning its nuclear weapons ambitions. However, after the collapse of the agreement, reactor construction was suspended in 2003 and terminated in 2006.
Since 2000, North Korea has been focusing on building small- and medium-sized power plants to meet electricity demands in small factories and homes. This policy continues today, with new networks of small-scale hydropower plants serving local areas. The country has also been experimenting with renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and tidal power, although these currently make up only a fraction of the national electricity supply. The largest solar venture to date has been the North Phyongan Solar Plant, which consists of several thousand panels.
Despite these efforts, power shortages persist in North Korea, and the country has been diverting electricity from provinces to keep the capital, Pyongyang, powered 24 hours a day. This has resulted in long stretches of power outages for people in rural areas, who have been forced to find creative ways to access reliable power. Some have resorted to bribing officials at power stations or factories to steal electricity by attaching individual power lines to the plants.
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Power shortages
North Korea has been facing power shortages for decades. The country's primary sources of power are hydroelectricity and coal, with the former accounting for the majority of its power generation. However, due to the crumbling power transmission network, the country has been unable to generate enough electricity to meet its needs, resulting in rolling blackouts across the nation, including in the capital city of Pyongyang.
The power shortages in North Korea have been exacerbated by the sale of electricity to China and the prioritization of certain areas, such as Pyongyang, over rural areas. The government has attempted to address the issue by constructing large hydropower plants and implementing a new system of small and medium-sized power plants. However, these initiatives have not been sufficient to meet the country's electricity demands, and many households are restricted to as little as two hours of power per day.
The lack of a stable electricity supply has hindered North Korea's economic development, particularly in the industrial sector. It has also led to an increase in the use of solar panels by individuals and businesses as an alternative source of power. However, the overall energy security challenges facing the country remain significant, and the vast majority of North Koreans continue to suffer from severe energy deprivation.
The North Korean government rarely acknowledges the country's power problems directly. However, state media frequently reports on increases in output from power stations, and state TV often broadcasts beauty shots of Pyongyang at night, with lit-up monuments and apartments, giving the impression that the city has a stable power supply. In reality, the power situation in North Korea is dire, with some of the poorest citizens receiving state-provided electricity only once a year.
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Pyongyang's 24/7 electricity supply
North Korea has been unable to generate enough electricity to meet its needs for decades. The country's primary sources of power are hydroelectricity and coal, with the former accounting for the majority of its power generation. Despite this, power shortages are common, and many households are restricted to 2 hours of electricity per day.
Pyongyang, the capital city, has historically received priority for electricity supply, but even it has been subject to rolling blackouts. However, in 2024, Pyongyang began supplying electricity to homes around the clock. This change has been attributed to the closure of factories and businesses in the city due to poor economic conditions. It has also come at the expense of other provinces, particularly Chagang, which has been historically self-sufficient in electricity generation due to its abundant water resources and several power plants.
The North Korean government has attempted to address the country's electricity shortages through various initiatives. One approach has been the construction of large hydroelectric power stations across the country. Additionally, North Korea has focused on developing smaller hydro plants that can be built more quickly and serve local areas. The country has also experimented with renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and tidal power, although these currently make up only a small fraction of the national electricity supply.
Despite these efforts, the electricity supply in North Korea remains unreliable and unevenly distributed. The regime has been criticized for its inability to provide consistent electricity to its citizens, and the issue has hindered the country's economic development by impacting industrial production and living standards. The sale of electricity to China has also exacerbated the power shortages within the country.
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North Korea's energy initiatives
North Korea has been facing energy shortages for decades. The country's primary sources of power are hydropower and coal, with hydro supplying the largest portion of electricity. However, the country has been unable to generate enough electricity to meet its needs, leading to rolling blackouts and uneven distribution of power.
To address this issue, North Korea has implemented several energy initiatives over the years. One initiative has been the construction of large hydropower plants, which have taken decades to complete. The country is also pushing for local-scale hydro, with a focus on building smaller hydro plants that can be completed more quickly and feed local areas. These smaller stations are currently being built in Kangwon and Jagang Provinces.
Another energy initiative in North Korea is the growing use of renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and tidal power. Solar panels have become increasingly common on rooftops and balconies across the country, although this is more out of necessity than a push for green energy solutions. The largest solar venture to date has been the North Phyongan Solar Plant, which consists of several thousand panels.
North Korea has also experimented with wind power, but more recent efforts have focused on increasing solar energy production. Despite these initiatives, the country continues to face chronic energy shortages, with the vast majority of North Koreans remaining severely energy deprived. The uneven distribution of power has also led to a disparity between urban and rural areas, with Pyongyang, the capital, receiving 24/7 electricity while some rural areas only have access to power once a year.
In addition to hydropower and renewable energy sources, North Korea imports crude oil from China and Russia. The country had previously imported oil from China and the Soviet Union at below-market prices, but these deals were not renewed after the end of the Cold War, leading to an increase in oil prices for North Korea. North Korea also exports electricity to China, which exacerbates the power shortages within the country.
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Frequently asked questions
North Korea faces chronic electricity shortages and rolling blackouts, even in the capital city of Pyongyang. While some areas have 24/7 electricity, others only get power once a year. The country's power shortage is exacerbated by the sale of electricity to China.
North Korea has been unable to generate enough electricity for its needs for decades. The country's crumbling power transmission network has also made it difficult to transmit large amounts of electricity across the nation.
North Korea has implemented a system of small- and medium-sized power plants to meet electricity demands in small factories and homes. The country has also emphasized the need for smaller hydro plants that can be built within a reasonable timeframe and feed local areas.
