Air China has restarted direct flights between Beijing and Pyongyang after a six-year break, marking another small step in North Korea’s gradual reopening.
The first flight, CA121, left Beijing Capital Airport early Monday morning and landed in Pyongyang about two and a half hours later. The route is operated using a Boeing 737-700.
This move comes as North Korea slowly begins reconnecting with the outside world after sealing its borders in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, which left the country almost completely isolated.
The country has recently resumed limited transport links, including train services with China and flight routes with Russia. Earlier, North Korea’s own airline, Air Koryo, also restarted flights between Beijing and Pyongyang in 2023.
China remains the most important external partner for North Korea, both economically and politically. It is the country’s largest trading partner and a key source of diplomatic support.
For now, the flights are not open to general tourism. Only passengers traveling for business, study, or special approved purposes are allowed on board.
Travelers at Beijing airport described optimism about future travel possibilities. Some said they hoped the resumption of flights and trains would eventually lead to more regular exchanges between the two countries.
Before the pandemic, Chinese tourists made up the majority of foreign visitors to North Korea, bringing in significant revenue for the country’s tourism sector.
However, full reopening remains uncertain. While some routes are returning, there is still no confirmation on when Western tourism might resume.
In short, the resumption of flights between Beijing and Pyongyang signals cautious re-engagement—but North Korea is still moving much more slowly than most of the world in reopening its borders.
