A Google search will show that North Korea usually issues a visa on a separate piece of paper, not as a stamp or sticker in your passport. But suppose I really do want one; I like having all the records in my passport and not have a random outlier.

This TripAdvior topic has a few responses with respect to a UK citizen:

You will only get a stamp in your passport for NK if you go to the NK embassy in London and pay £20 to get an actual stamp - otherwise it's a paper visa that isn't attached to your passport.

and

Absolutely no issues at all. I have the whole visa and stamp in my passport and no one bats an eyelid, or if they can read Korean, they just get curious to see a visa that is not commonly seen.

When I browse the web, all I find are a scarce number of messages like those above. So my question is, are there any ways to guarantee or improve the likelihood of receiving a stamp/visa in my passport with clear steps to follow?

FYI: I am an American citizen. For purposes of this question, let's assume the travel ban is lifted.

A Google search will show that North Korea usually issues a visa on a separate piece of paper, not as a stamp or sticker in your passport. But suppose I really do want one; I like having all the records in my passport and not have a random outlier.

This TripAdvior topic has a few responses with respect to a UK citizen:

You will only get a stamp in your passport for NK if you go to the NK embassy in London and pay £20 to get an actual stamp - otherwise it's a paper visa that isn't attached to your passport.

and

Absolutely no issues at all. I have the whole visa and stamp in my passport and no one bats an eyelid, or if they can read Korean, they just get curious to see a visa that is not commonly seen.

When I browse the web, all I find are a scarce number of messages like those above. So my question is, are there any ways to guarantee or improve the likelihood of receiving a stamp/visa in my passport with clear steps to follow?

FYI: I am an American citizen. I know there is currently a travel ban (unless applied for special permission), but I am interested in gathering knowledge on what does/did work anyway.

A Google search will show that North Korea usually issues a visa on a separate piece of paper, not as a stamp or sticker in your passport. But suppose I really do want one; I like having all the records in my passport and not have a random outlier.

This TripAdvior topic has a few responses with respect to a UK citizen:

You will only get a stamp in your passport for NK if you go to the NK embassy in london and pay £20 to get an actual stamp - otherwise its a paper visa that isn't attached to your passport.

and

Absolutely no issues at all. I have the whole visa and stamp in my passport and no one bats an eyelid, or if they can read Korean, they just get curious to see a visa that is not commonly seen.

When I browse the web, all I find are a scarce number of messages like those above. So my question is, are there any ways to guarantee or improve the likelihood of receiving stamp/visa in my passport with clear steps to follow?

FYI: I am an American citizen. For purposes of this question, let's assume the travel ban is lifted.

A Google search will show that North Korea usually issues a visa on a separate piece of paper, not as a stamp or sticker in your passport. But suppose I really do want one; I like having all the records in my passport and not have a random outlier.

This TripAdvior topic has a few responses with respect to a UK citizen:

You will only get a stamp in your passport for NK if you go to the NK embassy in London and pay £20 to get an actual stamp - otherwise it's a paper visa that isn't attached to your passport.

and

Absolutely no issues at all. I have the whole visa and stamp in my passport and no one bats an eyelid, or if they can read Korean, they just get curious to see a visa that is not commonly seen.

When I browse the web, all I find are a scarce number of messages like those above. So my question is, are there any ways to guarantee or improve the likelihood of receiving a stamp/visa in my passport with clear steps to follow?

FYI: I am an American citizen. For purposes of this question, let's assume the travel ban is lifted.