North Korea’s Rise and Fall of "Pyongyang Time"

By Erin Kim.

Can a clock carry political meaning? For North Korea, it did. For nearly three years, the country had its own unique time zone, a 30-minute difference that reflected both division and control.

In August 2015, the North Korean government announced the creation of “Pyongyang Time.” All clocks were moved back by half an hour, from UTC+9 to UTC+8:30. On the surface, it seemed like such a small adjustment. In reality it was a symbolic declaration.

The change was introduced on the 70th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule. During colonization, Koreans were required to follow Tokyo standard time, which was again used to suppress and control. By breaking from that system, North Korea presented the move as an effort to remove any remnants of Japanese colonialism. Government leaders described “Pyongyang Time” as a proud act of independence and a symbol of national identity. Yet, beyond symbolism, the new time zone also reinforced the idea that the two Koreas live in fundamentally separate worlds, not just politically, but also in daily life. 

However, the change had practical consequences. Transportation schedules had to be altered, including trains that crossed into China. Foreign embassies and international organizations operating in Pyongyang needed to adjust. Communication across borders became more difficult. For most people around the world, a shift in time is just an inconvenience. In North Korea, it was another example of how daily life can be changed by the whims of one leader.

“Pyongyang Time” lasted less than three years. In 2018, during a period of improving relations between North and South Korea, the time difference became an obstacle. Meetings between officials required constant mental adjustments, and the separate clocks highlighted the political divide. In April 2018, Kim Jong-un announced a return to South Korea’s time zone. Clocks were set forward again to UTC+9.

Although North and South Korea now share the same time zone, the short history of “Pyongyang Time” shows how even ordinary parts of life can be used for political purposes. 

Adjusting the clock was more than a technical change. It was a way to send a message about independence, maintain separation from South Korea, and demonstrate power and control. This episode remains and will remain as a reminder of how deeply political authority can reach into everyday life.

The rise and fall of “Pyongyang Time” may seem minor compared to larger issues on the Korean peninsula, but it leaves behind an important lesson. In North Korea, nothing is too ordinary to escape politics. Even the ticking of a clock can be turned into a statement of power, division, and identity.

Reference

Munroe, T., Kim, J. (2015). Turning back the clock - North Korea creates Pyongyang Standard Time. Reuters Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/world/turning-back-the-clock-north-korea-creates-pyongyang-standard-time-idUSKCN0QC04B/ 

BBC (2018). North Korea changes its time zone to match South BBC Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44010705

Romo, V., (2018). North Korea Agrees To Sync Time With South Korea, As Symbolic Move To Unify Nations. npr Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/04/30/607179880/north-korea-agrees-to-sync-time-with-south-korea-as-symbolic-move-to-unify-natio