NORTH KOREA 

CITIZENSHIP: Citizenship is based upon the Nationality Law of October 9, 1963.  Persons who were citizens of the territory of Korea at the establishment of the People's Republic, May 1, 1948, were granted North Korean citizenship on that date. 

• BY BIRTH: Birth within the territory of North Korea does not automatically confer citizenship. The exception is a child born of unknown or stateless parents.
• BY DESCENT:
• A child born of a North Korean mother and father, regardless of the child’s country of birth.
• A child born in North Korea, of a North Korean citizen and a foreign national.
• The citizenship of a child born abroad of parents of mixed nationality, one of whom is a North Korean citizen, is to be determined by the parents.
• BY NATURALIZATION: North Korean citizenship is only granted by the Presidium of the Supreme Peoples’ Assembly. Specific requirements were not provided.

DUAL CITIZENSHIP:  NOT RECOGNIZED. Exception: It is difficult to renounce North Korean citizenship.  Most citizens of North Korea whobecome naturalized citizens of another country will remain unofficial dual citizens, still consideredNorth Korean citizens by the North Korean government.

LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP:

• VOLUNTARY: Voluntary renunciation of North Korean Citizenship is technically possible by North Korean Law. Renunciation must be granted by the Peoples’ Assembly. Unless renunciation is officially granted, the person will continue to be considered a citizen of North Korea.
• INVOLUNTARY: There are no grounds for involuntary loss of North Korean citizenship.