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Voykit pocket guide · North Korea (DPRK)
Kaechon
개천시
Skip Kaechon unless you are on a guided tour that includes Songam Cavern: a half-day stop from Pyongyang, not a destination.
Kaechon is a provincial industrial city in South Pyongan province, 50 km north of Pyongyang. Its only notable draw for foreign visitors is Songam Cavern, a large limestone cave system with 17 caves. Independent travel is impossible: you must be on a state-authorised tour. Most itineraries skip it or pass through on the way to other sites.
- Country
- North Korea (DPRK)
- Local name
- 개천시
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (cold, some sites may close)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- KPW
- Money
- Foreign cards, ATMs and transfers do not work: see Insurance & payments above.
- Daily spend
- Tour package (all-inclusive) check with operator; independent costs not applicable (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Fire 119 · Ambulance 110
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Guided tour (per day, all inclusive) | $100–300 |
| Songam Cavern entry | included in tour |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- FNJ · Pyongyang Sunan International Airport
- About 1.5 h by road; all foreign arrivals go through Pyongyang.
Typical fares
- Pyongyang → Kaechon by road
- about 1–1.5 h, included in tour
- Kaechon → Songam Cavern
- about 30 min by road
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
On a guided tour, transport is provided. The city has a bus network but it is not usable by foreign tourists independently.
See and do
Known for
- Songam Cavern
- Yongpun Lake
- Kaechon Central Department Store
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pyongyang | Train or road via guided tour | About 1–1.5 h |
| Songam Cavern | Road from Kaechon centre, about 30 min | About 1 h round trip including visit |
Sleep
- Kaechon city centre
- Very limited accommodation; most tours stay in Pyongyang and visit Kaechon as a day trip.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | 안녕하세요annyeonghaseyo |
| Thank you | 감사합니다gamsahamnida |
| How much is it? | 얼마예요?eolmayeyo? |
| Where is the toilet? | 화장실이 어디예요?hwajangsiri eodiyeyo? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- Independent travel is not permitted: you must be on a state-authorised tour.
- Photography restrictions apply near military and industrial sites; ask your guide.
- Songam Cavern may close for maintenance or political events; check with your tour operator.
North Korea is under strict government control; petty crime is rare but arbitrary detention is a real risk. Follow your guide's instructions at all times. Do not photograph military or sensitive infrastructure.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Kaechon yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Songam Cavern
- Yongpun Lake
- Kaechon Central Department Store
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Kaechon, revision 4596467 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4596467
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Kaechon개천시
이 주소로 가 주세요
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Most embassies are in Pyongyang; contact your country's embassy there for assistance. The Swedish Embassy handles consular affairs for several Western countries.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/kaechon). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.