Air China resumes flights to N Korea after 6-year pause

BEIJING, Mar 30 (AFP): Air China restarted direct flights between Beijing and Pyongyang on Monday after a six-year hiatus, another sign isolated North Korea is gradually opening up following the resumption of train services between the capitals.

China has acted as a lifeline for North Korea's moribund economy as its largest trading partner as well as an important source of diplomatic and political support.

Access to North Korea has always been heavily restricted, but the country became almost entirely cut off when it sealed its borders in 2020 during the pandemic.

Flight CA121 departed Beijing Capital Airport at 7:58 am (2358 GMT on Sunday), according to FlightStats data, and arrived at Pyongyang's Sunan International Airport at 10:37 am (0137 GMT).

The plane was a Boeing 737-700 with capacity for up to 128 passengers.