North Korea has reportedly begun operating domestic flights connecting the capital city of Pyongyang with the Samjiyon tourist area near Mount Baekdu.
On October 29, Voice of America (VOA) cited data from the flight tracking website FlightRadar24, stating that Air Koryo flight JS3103 departed from Pyongyang at 10:25 a.m. on October 22 and arrived in Samjiyon an hour later. The return flight, JS3104, left Samjiyon for Pyongyang at approximately 3 p.m. on the same day.
A similar flight operated on October 23 around the same time. The aircraft used for these flights was a Ukrainian Antonov An-148, one of the newest models in North Korea's fleet, capable of carrying 70 to 80 passengers. This route had also been in operation the previous month.
This development is seen as a reflection of the intentions of Kim Jong Un, the Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea. In a speech commemorating the 76th anniversary of the regime's founding on September 9, 2024, Kim directed that Samjiyon should be transformed into a 'global mountain tourism destination.' Last year, he attended the opening ceremony of five hotels in the Samjiyon tourist area, accompanied by his daughter, Ju-ae.
Samjiyon Mountain Tourist Area is one of the key regions that North Korea is developing alongside the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Area. It features ski resorts and accommodation facilities. Air Koryo temporarily operated domestic flights connecting Pyongyang and Wonsan-Kalma during the peak summer tourist season from late July to early September this year.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.