North Korea Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in North Korea in December.

Thinking about venturing to North Korea this December and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:

What to Expect in North Korea in December

The weather in North Korea in December can be quite varied, with temperatures that range from very cold to cold and precipitation levels ranging from low to moderate. During December, winter is in full swing.

Temperatures

During the day temperatures vary from very cold in Hyesan at -6°C (21°F) to cold in Haeju at 5°C (41°F). At night it cools down to -4°C (25°F) in Haeju and -20°C (-4°F) in Hyesan. December is a very cold month in some areas, so be prepared and make sure to dress up warm.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of North Korea, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From low snow/rainfall in Haeju with an average of 24 mm (0.9 in) to moderate snow/rainfall in Wonsan with 43 mm (1.7 in).

Average sunshine

Most areas see decent amounts of sunshine this month. Haeju gets around 171 hours of sunlight, providing a pleasant balance of sun and clouds. If you'd prefer more guaranteed sunshine, our weather planner can show you sunnier spots around the world.

Explore North Korea by month

Best Places to Visit in North Korea in December

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across North Korea.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in North Korea

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in North Korea?

Temperature range in North Korea (December)

Precipitation variation in North Korea (December)

Haeju

In December Haeju generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 5°C (41°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -4°C (25°F) and low monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
12°C (54°F)
5°C (41°F)
2°C (36°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
-4°C (25°F)
-6°C (21°F)
Monthly sun hours
165 hours
171 hours
188 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
46 mm (1.8 in)
24 mm (0.9 in)
18 mm (0.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
7 days
6 days
Weather conditions

Hyesan

In December Hyesan generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -6°C (21°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -20°C (-4°F) and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
2°C (36°F)
-6°C (21°F)
-8°C (18°F)
Min temperature
-10°C (14°F)
-20°C (-4°F)
-23°C (-9°F)
Monthly snowfall
44 mm (1.7 in)
25 mm (1 in)
18 mm (0.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
9 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Pyong Yang

In December Pyong Yang generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 3°C (37°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -6°C (21°F) and low monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
3°C (37°F)
1°C (34°F)
Min temperature
1°C (34°F)
-6°C (21°F)
-9°C (16°F)
Monthly sun hours
181 hours
181 hours
201 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
48 mm (1.9 in)
27 mm (1.1 in)
15 mm (0.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
6 days
5 days
Weather conditions

Wonsan

In December Wonsan generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 4°C (39°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -5°C (23°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
4°C (39°F)
1°C (34°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
-5°C (23°F)
-8°C (18°F)
Monthly sun hours
191 hours
191 hours
205 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
79 mm (3.1 in)
43 mm (1.7 in)
36 mm (1.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
7 days
7 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in North Korea.

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in North Korea in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Pyong Yang 3°C (37°F) -6°C (21°F) 27 mm (1.1 in)
Wonsan 4°C (39°F) -5°C (23°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)
Hyesan -6°C (21°F) -20°C (-4°F) 25 mm (1 in)
Haeju 5°C (41°F) -4°C (25°F) 24 mm (0.9 in)

North Korea weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in North Korea in December?

December in North Korea brings unpleasant weather. In Haeju, daytime temperatures are typically around 5°C (41°F) and nighttime lows hover near -4°C (25°F).

What is the average temperature in North Korea in December?

Haeju averages a daytime maximum of 5°C (41°F) in December, with overnight lows close to -4°C (25°F).

Does North Korea get a lot of snow/rain in December?

Not particularly. Haeju averages just 24 mm (0.9 in) of snow/rain in December, making it a mostly dry month for North Korea.

Is December a Good Time to Visit North Korea?

Given the typically poor weather conditions in Haeju, December may not be the ideal time to visit North Korea.

On average, the best time to visit North Korea is in May and October with generally perfect weather in Haeju. The weather in January, February and July, on the other hand, tends to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in North Korea.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to North Korea? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in North Korea.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.