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NORTH KOREA HAS opened a new terminal building at Pyongyang’s international airport, underscoring an effort to attract more tourists and to spruce up the country ahead of a celebration of a major anniversary of the founding of its ruling party in October.
North Korean Premier Pak Pong Ju officiated at the opening ceremony, which marks the completion of years of work at Pyongyang’s main Sunan airport.
However, the airport is likely to appear largely empty. Just a handful of international flights come and go from Pyongyang every week, although since last year the frequency has increased.
Only two airlines have scheduled flights to Pyongyang — North Korea’s flag carrier, Air Koryo, and Air China.
The new international terminal building is roughly the same size as the old one which was long in service. But it is much bigger than the small, temporary terminal building that has been in use for the past few years while construction was going on.
In recent years, the regular international connections from Pyongyang have been Beijing and Shenyang in China, along with Vladivostok in Russia.
Air Koryo occasionally flies further afield, for example to Malaysia and Kuwait, but those are not regular flights.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had shown a keen interest in the construction of the new airport facilities and North Korean state media reported him making inspection visits to the project four times in the past two years.
On one occasion last year, North Korean state media reported that Kim Jong Un criticized the construction of the new airport terminal building, highlighting “defects.”.
It is rare for North Korean media to mention any problems in the country, but under Kim Jong Un there have been other occasions where his criticisms have been published.
Photos of his visit to the new terminal were prominently featured in the North’s media last week. Judging from his broad smile in those photos, whatever defects he had previously pointed out were fixed.
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Good old Kim…some man for inspecting things.
yep
Stick him on the Luas and he will have fare evaders in front of a firing squad before you can say leap card
Savage gut on him. Couldn’t even close the shirt.
Hotlist man Rory have me in stitches here
That did say “goodman” the auld autocorrect
Built that terminal himself, so he did.
‘Kim Jong Un criticised the construction’ in other words there weren’t enough snack machines.
If you look carefully all the minions are busy notetaking , not an independent mind to be found there Kim say , Kim do , kemshi
That’s it! Forget about Malaga, pack up your bags kids, we’re going to North Korea! kids:”yeeeeeyyyyy!!!!”
Probably safer than tunisia !!
Ouch.
Ryanairs new Asian hub. Shanghi south.
Say what you want but that guy is the best Bond villain ever
What a sad looking overfed b”stard.
Says the Gorilla
Actually looks quite nice.
What this article forgot to mention was that the architect who initially designed the new terminal vanished last year after The Dear Leader criticised his design and hasn’t been seen since. The Independent in the UK reported during the week that the architect was apparently executed out of hand. Why didn’t The Journal report upon or point this rather tragic aspect of this story out?
Their greatest achievement since they landed. Man on the sun
According to north korea news reports it only cost $5 to build…..great value
Jeezus ya’d be bored out of your t!ts working there.
Kim is a psycho.
Yes
Building an airport is a sure sign.
Building a brand spanking new airport terminal while the citizens live in stark poverty and die of starvation. Yup.
All the kardashians are
I think it is a nice looking airport.
Will I be done for trolling now.
R u sure you ain’t glen?
Eh Declan
That ship has sailed, you gotta keep up lad you gotta keep up
I have my suspicions.
It’s like a picture of Leitrim International Airport.
Where he going with the oversized MC Hammer jocks?
It’s a bit like Terminal 2….vacuous and overpriced
I wouldn’t be familiar with Airport terminal pricing. Is it over priced by much?
New Terminal in Canberra Airport €334m
New Terminal in Dublin Airport €600m
And They make you walk to terminal one for take off. Mad.
I was in the old one, we landed in pitch darkness as they don’t light it up in fear of the imperialist Americans seeing it from a satellite and walked into a room to have our phones taken off us to be returned when we left. When we did depart there was a great duty free stall selling what apparently were cigarettes and snakes in bottles. Great craic
Be no que going through departures anyway.
It would be interesting to go for a look at the country all the same. Definitely would be something different
Looks like the next Griswold family vacation is sorted!
Extreme socialism in action.
I hear they have a direct flight from Knock airport!
Are you sure that’s not a recent photo of Cork Airport?
it could be Berlin too.
That’s f’n hilarious
I say there’s more life and activity in the overlook hotel than this airport.
How in Gods name can people be so blind
Looks just like Cork airport !!1
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