Location-Based Time Difference
Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, is located in the northeastern part of the Korean peninsula. The East Asian country borders China, Russia, South Korea and Japan. As far as time zones are concerned, Pyongyang is 9 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) or Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). This means that when it’s 6 o’clock in the evening in London, it’s already 3 o’clock in the morning in Pyongyang.
The time zone in Pyongyang is referred to as the Korean Standard Time (KST). Though geographically the city is located in the region of the PDT or the Pacific Daylight Time, North Korea adopted the time zone of its neighbor, South Korea, when it was still a part of it. South Korea’s standard time is based on the UTC+09:00 zone, which is one hour earlier than the PDT.
The Sunni-Shia Schism
An additional factor that also affects time recognition in North Korea is the religious differences between North and South Korea. Although both countries are nominally based on the principles of Buddhism, the two states have evolved two separate religious cultures that differ. This is because of the fact that the majority of North Koreans practice the Suni religion while a majority of the South Koreans practice Shia Islam. Suni and Shia differ in their prayer and fasting times, which in turn affects the way they keep track of time in their respective countries.
In North Korea, most of the clocks and watches are based on the more conservative Suni prayer times, which are five minutes behind South Korea’s Shia-based prayer times. This means that, while South Korea is 9 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, a clock in Pyongyang would be nine hours minus five minutes ahead of GMT.
Reliance on Daylight Saving Time
North Korea does not observe Daylight Saving Time, so there are no times of the year when the clocks are adjusted for the daylight saving period. The North Korean government does not recognize the practice of DST, as it often confuses travelers who are not familiar with North Korean time. North Korea does, however, make adjustments for seasonal changes in time due to the difference in sunrise and sunset times during the winter and summer months.
Reasons Behind North Korea’s Resistence to Change
Although the use of Daylight Saving Time has been adopted by most countries of the world, North Korea remains resolute in its refusal to adopt the practice. There are several reasons behind this decision. Firstly, it’s believed that the government does not want to inconvenience foreign travelers who are not aware of the country’s practice of setting clocks by five minutes.
Secondly, North Korea has been resisting the influence of western culture, preferring instead to remain as a traditional and isolated society. The practice of daylight saving time is viewed as a western innovation, which is why North Korea is not so keen to adopt it. The third reason why North Korea is resistant to change is because of its need to maintain a sense of nationalism and identity. By not using Daylight Saving Time, North Korea can maintain a sense of nationalism and be perceived as having a distinct identity from the rest of the world, something that is of great importance to the country’s leadership.
Effects on North Korean Communication
The lack of Daylight Saving Time in North Korea has had an effect on the country’s communication with other countries. It has caused confusion for North Koreans when it comes to international communication. For example, when China and South Korea use daylight saving times, North Koreans may not be aware of this and this can lead to misunderstandings and communication problems.
Moreover, North Koreans usually set their clocks five minutes behind their South Korean counterparts when they are engaging in business interactions with them. This can cause further confusion in communication and can lead to delays in business transactions dependent on accurate time calculations.
Public Adjustment to Clock Adjustment
Due to the lack of Daylight Saving Time in North Korea, the public there is often asked to adjust to the clock adjustments that are made by the government. For example, during the Solar Transition period the government may require citizens to adjust the time that they set their clocks by in order to maintain accurate time calculations. Such adjustments can be difficult for citizens to make, as they have to adjust their daily schedule accordingly.
Stock Market Timings
The Korean Central News Agency has recently announced that a new stock market will be opened in the capital of Pyongyang. It is expected to open in 2022 and will operate according to the UTC+09:00 Korean Standard Time. This means that the stock market will be 9 hours ahead of GMT and 5 minutes behind South Korea’s Seoul-based stock exchange.
The new Pyongyang stock exchange is expected to operate for 10 hours per day, with an opening and closing time of 9 am and 7 pm respectively. It is expected that this time zone will be maintained even after the introduction of Daylight Saving Time in South Korea, which is likely to happen in 2023.
North Korea Time Is Important Factor In Business Deals
Due to the five-minute difference between the North Korean and South Korean standard time, North Korea has emerged as one of the key players in the business deals between the two countries. South Korean companies often take advantage of the five minutes by ensuring that their deals are conducted at the right time in order to get a better price or more favorable terms.
Moreover, the North Korean time zone is also crucial in coordinating international meetings and conferences. As Pyongyang is 9 hours ahead of GMT, meetings in the city can take place much earlier than their counterparts in the West, thus making them more attractive and attractive to international businesses looking to maximize their profits.
Pyongyang Time Zone and Tourism
With Pyongyang being nine hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, the city attracts international tourists that wish to explore the unique culture of North Korea. International visitors often adjust their watches and clocks to the North Korea time zone in order to be on time for meetings, flights and other activities.
Moreover, visitors to Pyongyang also need to take into consideration the five-minute difference between North and South Korea in order to ensure that their plans are properly coordinated. Failing to do so can lead to costly delays and problems for travelers to Pyongyang.
Effects On North Korea’s Trade
The five-minute time difference between North and South Korea has also had an effect on the country’s trade. North Korea has been experiencing an economic crisis since the 1980s and is currently dependent on its neighbor, South Korea, for many imports and exports. This has meant that the five-minute difference in the time zones affects both sides of the trade and affects the prices of goods that are imported and exported between the two countries.
South Korean companies often take advantage of the five-minute difference by making optimum use of the times when the exchange rate is most favorable. As the North Korean currency is less valuable than the South Korean won, South Korean companies often place their orders just before the exchange rate resets, thus getting the best price for their goods.
Gap Between North And South Korea
The five minute time difference between North and South Korea has further widened the gap between the two countries. Although both countries use the same time zone, the South Korean practice of Daylight Saving Time has made it difficult for North Koreans to keep up with the changing times. The lack of Daylight Saving Time has been an additional source of differences between North and South Koreans, as North Koreans cannot fully comprehend the changing times that their South Korean counterparts observe.
Moreover, North Korea’s refusal to adopt Daylight Saving Time has made it difficult for foreign travelers to adjust to the local time and has caused confusion in international negotiations, especially with South Korea. This has further hindered both business and personal relationships between the two countries, as North Koreans and South Koreans struggle to understand each other’s timekeeping.
