North Korea Reopens International Flights After Closing Due To COVID-19, Immediately Serves Routes To China

Air Koryo aircraft in Beijing Airport. (Wikimedia Commons/Roman Harak)

JAKARTA - North Korean authorities reopened international flight services on Tuesday, when a morning plane from Pyongyang arrived in Beijing, China, followed by another flight, marking the end of its closure since early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than 100 people boarded flights back to the capital operated by North Korean state-owned airline Air Koryo.

This condition is not surprising, because many North Korean citizens were stranded in China after Pyongyang closed its borders in early 2020, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Ji Jae Ryong, who served as North Korean Ambassador to China between 2010 and 2021, was among those returning to his country on Air Koryo flights. He was replaced by Ri Ryong Nam in February 2021.

Ji, who is in a wheelchair, was seen being assisted by an official of the North Korean Embassy at Beijing Capital International Airport.

It is known that Air Koryo last operated international passenger flights on February 1, 2020. Prior to the pandemic, there were five weekly round-trip flights between Pyongyang and Beijing.

Separately, China's Foreign Ministry said on Monday it had approved the resumption of regular passenger flights between China and North Korea to be operated by Air Koryo.

Two flights from Pyongyang are also expected to arrive in Vladivostok in Russia's Far East on Friday, and on August 28, the TASS News Agency reported, citing a local airport official.

Pyongyang continues cargo services by train and truck from and to China, as well as Russia's destination last year.