Timelines
There is no dependable timeline. FSIA diplomatic service and court-ordered alternatives take months and depend on the State Department and your court.
Asia & Pacific · Non-Hague Jurisdiction
We coordinate service of process, court filings, and related legal document delivery in North Korea through diplomatic channels and the foreign ministry, as part of our Asia & Pacific coverage network.
North Korea is not a party to the Hague Service Convention, the United States has no diplomatic relations with it, and it is subject to comprehensive U.S. and UN sanctions. There is no reliable way to deliver documents to a person inside North Korea through official channels, and private service there isn't realistic.
Where the defendant is the North Korean state or one of its agencies, service is governed by the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (28 U.S.C. § 1608), which sets out its own ordered methods, ending with transmission through the State Department. For other defendants, counsel usually looks at serving them outside North Korea or asking the court for an alternative method under FRCP Rule 4(f)(3).
Sanctions consideration: Because North Korea is subject to longstanding U.S. sanctions or embargo restrictions, service of process here can be further complicated — these restrictions can affect communication and the transmission of legal documents. We flag the need to review U.S. sanctions and OFAC licensing considerations before pursuing any service strategy involving North Korea, and recommend consulting counsel experienced in both North Korea's domestic law and U.S. sanctions compliance.
We help prepare the formal request package for the court and manage the diplomatic routing this process requires, including coordination with the U.S. State Department where applicable to North Korea.
Discuss this approach →Where diplomatic channels would be impractical, we help build the factual record needed to support a motion for court-ordered alternative service in matters involving North Korea.
Discuss this approach →Current diplomatic situation: The United States has no embassy or normal diplomatic relations with North Korea, and Swedish diplomats handle U.S. consular interests there. Diplomatic transmission of Letters Rogatory is generally impractical, and litigants typically need to rely on a court-ordered alternative method of service.
North Korea is subject to comprehensive U.S. sanctions, and U.S. passports are generally not valid for travel there without special validation. Counsel should confirm OFAC issues before any step is taken.
Requirements and current conditions can change — always confirm North Korea's treaty status on the HCCH status table and check current guidance from the U.S. Department of State's judicial assistance page before committing time and court fees to a particular route.
If you expect to enforce a judgment inside North Korea, ask counsel familiar with local law whether the method of service you choose will be respected there — service that satisfies a U.S. court doesn't automatically satisfy a foreign one.
We'll tell you plainly which route looks realistic for your matter, rather than promising an outcome.
The process
We review your case, deadline, and defendant details to confirm whether Letters Rogatory or a Rule 4(f)(3) motion fits better.
The original documents, a request letter, a cover letter, and translations into North Korea's official language(s), typically with a notarized translator's affidavit.
Letters Rogatory must be signed by a judge, not a clerk, and carry whatever seal or authentication North Korea requires.
The request is routed through the U.S. Department of State to North Korea's foreign ministry and courts.
Authorities in North Korea carry out service, and confirmation returns through the same channel for you to file with the court.
Requirements can differ by court and by country, and can change over time — treat this as a general outline, not a checklist for your filing.
Planning your matter
There is no dependable timeline. FSIA diplomatic service and court-ordered alternatives take months and depend on the State Department and your court.
Translate documents into Korean. For FSIA service, the statute requires a translation into the official language of the foreign state.
For a defendant connected with North Korea, the realistic options are: FSIA service under 28 U.S.C. § 1608 for claims against the state; serving the defendant, or its agents or affiliates, outside North Korea where the law allows; or a court-ordered alternative method. We help build the record your court will want to see.
Process Server Global has handled international service of process since 1982, and North Korea is one of the 195 nations we serve. We manage the paperwork, translations, routing, and proof of service, so your documents reach North Korea through the right channel and come back court-ready.
Request service in North KoreaGetting papers served in North Korea usually depends on the right people in the right offices. We work through the diplomatic and judicial channels North Korea recognizes, and coordinate in-country resources where local law allows, so your request doesn't stall on a technicality. If you're considering hiring a single process server directly in North Korea, be careful — agents may not be authorized under a foreign country's law to serve documents there, and service that ignores local rules can be challenged or carry serious consequences. Talk to us first, and we'll confirm what's permitted and which route will hold up.
We serve summons, complaints, subpoenas, and other court documents in North Korea in line with FRCP Rule 4(f), and return proof of service your court can rely on — a diplomatic confirmation or a sworn affidavit of service, depending on the route used.
North Korea has not joined the Hague Service Convention, so requests don't go through a Central Authority. Treaty status can change, so confirm it on the HCCH status table before you file.
Whatever the document, our team has the experience to execute your specific request and route it through the right channel the first time.
Decades of experience working through the correct government and judicial channels — Hague Central Authorities where they apply, diplomatic and court channels where they don't — mean your documents move through the right process, wherever they're headed.
Since 1982, we've built a track record litigators rely on — documented, court-ready service performed to FRCP 4(f) standards.
Need documents served in North Korea?
Tell us about your case and deadline, and we'll confirm the right service pathway for North Korea.
Request Service in North KoreaNo, and the United States has no diplomatic relations with North Korea.
Not in any reliable way. There is no working official channel, and private service there isn't realistic.
Through the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1608, which sets out the methods in order, ending with transmission through the U.S. State Department.
They may be servable where they are, under that country's rules, or by a court-ordered method under FRCP Rule 4(f)(3).
Yes. Sanctions are comprehensive; counsel should check OFAC issues first.
It depends on the route (Letters Rogatory versus a Rule 4(f)(3) motion), the number of defendants, document volume, translation needs, and government or consular fees. Tell us about your case and deadline and we'll outline the fees before you commit to anything.
Last updated: September 24, 2026
This page provides general information based on treaty membership status and is not legal advice. Requirements can vary by case and change over time — contact us to confirm current procedures for North Korea.