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North Korea Predicted to Restore International Flights. PHOTO/Reuters
PYONGYANG – Satellite image recently demonstrated an “unusual” level of aircraft maintenance at a major airport North Korea (North Korea). According to monitoring group 38North, this could be a signal Pyongyang is moving to restore international flights.
North Korea has effectively closed its borders since early 2020. This step was taken as part of North Korea’s efforts to deal with the corona virus pandemic, with all flights being cancelled.
In recent times, North Korea has reportedly resumed some cross-border trade with China by rail. North Korea has also allowed Beijing’s new ambassador to Pyongyang into the country, but has not resumed regular international travel.
“Several passenger jets operated by North Korea’s Air Koryo have been “moving through the maintenance hangar” at Sunan International Airport since early May, the report by North Korea monitoring website 38North cited satellite images.
“Such aircraft have very rarely undergone such maintenance over the past three years, so the recent activity levels were “notable”, the report continued.
38North said no cross-border air travel services were “believed to have taken place” during the entire period of the pandemic.
“It is unusual that such a large number have been serviced in such a short period of time,” said 38 North. However, they also cautioned that the flurry of activity does not guarantee an immediate or imminent resumption of air travel.
Speculation about Pyongyang’s possible reopening soared after China’s new ambassador arrived in Pyongyang to begin her official duties last month, more than two years after she was appointed.
A Chinese travel agency is also reportedly preparing to relaunch tours to North Korea in mid-June, according to the Seoul-based specialist NK News website.
“Global tours are one of the areas Pyongyang has always been interested in, because it can easily cash in foreign currency,” Hong Min, a researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, told AFP.
(esn)
