North Korea running commercial flights to China, Russia for first time since COVID-19

North Korea has resumed limited commercial flight routes following years of COVID-19 restrictions.

Pyongyang has flown multiple commercial flights to China and Russia in recent weeks, marking the country’s first return to civilian aviation since Jan. 2020.

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An Air Koryo plane is seen at Beijing Capital Airport. North Korea’s first international commercial flight in three years landed in Beijing on Aug. 22. (Greg Baker/AFP via / Getty Images)

Air Koryo, North Korea’s state-operated airline, has begun operating three flights a week from Pyongyang’s airport to Beijing.

The first flight arrived with few inbound passengers but returned to the hermit kingdom with approximately 400 North Korean nationals who have stayed in China during pandemic lockdowns, according to Yonhap News Agency.

A second flight arrived Saturday – once again with limited travelers to China – and returned with more than 100 North Koreans previously staying in China. 

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Two North Korean men walk through Beijing Capital Airport after the arrival of Air Koryo flight JS151. (Greg Baker/AFP via / Getty Images)

Passengers arrived in buses bearing diplomatic license plates, indicating that some of the Chinese-based nationals are most likely high status and possibly associated with Kim Jong Un’s regime. 

Another commercial North Korean flight arrived in Vladivostok, Russia, on Friday morning. 

The plane made a turn-around back to North Korea by the mid-afternoon with passengers aboard.

An Air Koryo plane at Beijing Capital Airport showing the flag of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The hermit kingdom has resumed commercial air travel to both China and Russia. (Greg Baker/AFP via / Getty Images)

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No official flight schedule has been announced for Air Koryo’s routes to Russian airports.

North Korean air travel infrastructure is largely restricted to the nation’s elites and does not usually provide flights outside its few allies.