By Chung Min-uck
A direct air route from Shanghai to Pyongyang is scheduled to be launched on July 1, according to Hangzhou.com, an exclusive online news media based in Hangzhou and run by the local government.
This third direct route between a Chinese city and the North Korean capital comes amid increased demand of Chinese tourists heading to North Korea, according to the Korea International Travel Company, the North’s state-run and only travel agency. Beijing and Shenyang were the only locations offering direct flights to Pyongyang before the launch of the new air route, the online media source states.
Tickets for the first round-trip flight between Shanghai and Pyongyang have already sold out. At present, North Korea only allows Chinese and Russian tourists on regular trips. Seoul has suspended tours to the North following the shooting of a South Korean visitor to Mt. Geumgang in 2008.
A travel agency in Hangzhou was quoted by the exclusive news media that the age range of tourists who have bought the first tickets are mainly in their 30s to 50s. It also said that the Chinese tourists visiting Pyongyang have experience in traveling abroad and that they apparently decided to visit in order to get a first-hand look at the autocratic state.
Air Koryo, the state-owned national airline of North Korea, will operate its own round-trip flights twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The new international route between Shanghai and Pyongyang is expected to encourage the tourism business between northeastern regions of China and North Korea.
A regular package runs for five days, with travelers departing from Hangzhou for Pyongyang and touring Mts. Myohyang, Gaeseong and Geumgang and other popular destinations. The trip costs around 900,000 won ($829) to 1 million won ($921), the travel agency said.