By Kim Bo-eun
Rumors are circulating about the consecutive landing of five North Korean Air Koryo planes at Russia's eastern city of Vladivostok, Monday, which was more than usual.
Air Koryo operates just two regular flights between Pyongyang and Vladivostok a week ― one on Monday and one on Friday.
However, three Air Koryo Ilyushin-76 cargo aircraft landed in Vladivostok at 9 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Monday.
Also an IL-62 and Tupolev-154 passenger planes landed at 11 a.m. and 4:40 p.m. the same day.
Two of the cargo planes returned to Pyongyang at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., along with a passenger aircraft that departed at 12:30 p.m.
A Vladivostok airport spokesman said Air Koryo was “flying extra flights from the standard passenger ones,” according to NK News.
It is reportedly rare to use IL-76s for cargo flights between Pyongyang and Vladivostok. One IL-76 is known to transport North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's armored limousine.
Speculation arose that the unusual operation of extra flights using the IL-76 could be part of preparations for Kim's visit to Russia.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin invited the North Korean leader to the Eastern Economic Forum to be held in Vladivostok in September. Kim is not known to have responded.
Other speculation is that the flights were operated to bring back North Korean workers from Russia, who failed to receive approval for a further stay on new contracts there.
Meanwhile, an IL-62 is used by the North Korean leader as a personal plane.