International air links to the Hermit Kingdom have resumed after a gap of three years.
North Korea flag carrier Air Koryo touched down in Beijing from Pyongyang in the first sign the country could be opening up again.
China has ‘approved the regular flight plan of North Korean Air Koryo Pyongyang-Beijing-Pyongyang and other passenger routes’ the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.
Travel agency Koryo Tours said the restart of the Pyongyang-Beijing route will initially facilitate travel for North Koreans to go home.
There is no sign it will lead to a tourism resumption into North Korea yet.
“This flight isn’t a full resumption of the route yet, it is a special flight for Koreans stuck overseas,” said Simon Cockerell, GM of Koryo Tours.
Air Koryo also has scheduled flights to Vladivostok, Russia later this week, Reuters reported.
