First International Commercial Flight From North Korea In 3 Years Lands In China

On Tuesday, North Korea’s first international commercial flight in three years touched down in Beijing.

The board calculated that Air Koryo flight JS151 arrived at Beijing’s Capital Airport at about 9:17 am (0117 GMT).

It is Air Koryo’s first commercial flight since North Korea closed its borders in response to the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020.

Flightradar24 and the Chinese tracking app Umetrip both reported that it took off from Pyongyang at about 08:30 am local time (2330 GMT),

When approached for comment at the company’s Beijing headquarters, an Air Koryo representative replied he had no information to share.

On Monday, a previously booked Air Koryo trip to Beijing was abruptly canceled, for no apparent reason.

Since early 2020, when it closed its borders in reaction to the Covid-19 outbreak, North Korea virtually isolated itself from the rest of the world.

However, after three years of Covid-induced isolation, there are growing indications that Pyongyang is becoming more lenient on border controls.

Last month, Chinese and Russian officials watched a military parade in Pyongyang, the first foreign dignitaries to visit the DPRK in years.

Pyongyang also permitted a delegation of athletes to compete in taekwondo in Kazakhstan last week.

According to the specialist website, Air Koryo was planning two flights from Russia’s Vladivostok to Pyongyang on Friday and next Monday.

Also read: North Korea Intends To Launch Satellite Between August 24-31