Only 2 fixed routes available！10 things about Pyongyang International Airport's new terminal

By Rita

The North Korean authorities have recently been showcasing the Pyongyang International Airport “new terminal” as Proof of their architectural capabilities reaching world-class standards.However, foreign media revealed that due to design discrepancies falling short of expectations, Kim Jong-un had the designer executed as early as last year..

This highly modern, glass-walled new terminal is said to be six times larger than the previous one, but the actual number of visitors remains low. In this mysterious country, where every move of tourists is tightly controlled by the government, what innovations does the new terminal offer? Here’s a 10-point summary based onThe Straits Times of Singapore:

▲ Pyongyang International Airport (Photo / Darley Images / AP)

1. Terminal: Includes 12 check-in counters, clothing stores, souvenir shops, duty-free shops, and several restaurants.

2. Expected to serve as a hub for international flights to Pyongyang: Previously, flights came through Beijing and Shenyang in China, and Vladivostok in Russia. The report noted that there are 6,000 Western tourists to North Korea each year, though the number dropped sharply last year due to Ebola.

▲ Air China (Photo / Wikipedia)

3. Only two airlines operate fixed flights here: Air Koryo and Air China; no other airlines have regular services.

4. Aims to attract travelers heading to Mount Paektu.

5. Ordered built by Kim Jong-un in 2012: The old airport was too small and dilapidated. Kim Jong-un visited the site multiple times and deployed troops to monitor progress. It was reported that in November last year, he noticed “defects” on-site, scolded workers, and had some parts demolished and rebuilt.

6. The person in charge of the construction project went missing last year: Reportedly executed for “personal corruption and disobedience.”

▲ Pyongyang International Airport lobby (Photo / Darley Images / AP)

7. Handmade craftsmanship and patriotism: The Associated Press reported in October that workers built the new terminal by hand, with extremely loud patriotic songs playing throughout the construction process.

8. Kim Jong-un called the airport design “highly artistic and cultural.”

9. A high-speed railway and highway connecting the new terminal to the city center may be built in the future.

10. The new terminal symbolizes North Korea’s “efficiency”: Aside from attracting tourists, it is also intended for the ruling party’s celebration in October.

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