North Korea is remodeling Samjiyon Airport, which is expected to serve as the gateway for Mount Paekdu tourism, in order to meet international airport standards. Experts believe that the country is modernizing its tourism infrastructure nationwide in anticipation of expanding access to tourist sites next year.
On Wednesday News1 discovered a report from Korean Central Television on July 18th that showed a propaganda music group in Samjiyon City pointing to a 3D rendering display depicting the Samjiyon International Airport Complex Layout Plan.
Runway Repaving and Apron Addition: Enhancing Airport Capabilities
The 3D rendering display features an international airport terminal building connected to a train station with three platforms. According to the released images, it appears that the existing 3.3 km (about 2 miles) runway will be repaved, and an apron will be added to facilitate passenger boarding, cargo unloading, and aircraft refueling or maintenance, signaling an upgrades to the airport’s operational capabilities.
NK News, a U.S.-based media outlet specializing in North Korean affairs, estimates that construction to expand Samjiyon Airport began in May, based on satellite images from the global satellite company Planet Labs.
Samjiyon Airport, which is expected to serve as the gateway to Mount Paekdu tourism, is located approximately 32 km (about 20 miles) from the mountain. However, concerns have been raised that the airport—with its single narrow and short runway—will need upgrades to accommodate large aircraft for tourism purposes.
It is reported that Samjiyon Airport serves as an operational base for the 27th Regiment of the North Korean Air Force’s 8th Aviation Division and has also been responsible for some air defense missions in the country’s northeastern and eastern coastal areas. Since Kim Jong Un assumed leadership of the Workers’ Party of North Korea, tourism development has gained momentum, with domestic flights operating between Pyongyang International Airport and Samjiyon Airport since 2014.
From 2013 to 2018, charter flights occasionally operated directly from Yanji Airport in China to Samjiyon Airport for tourists.
Simultaneous Development of the Wonsan Kalma District Reflects a Commitment to Attracting Tourists
The plan to transform Samjiyon Airport into an international airport aligns with Kim Jong Un’s ambition to boost tourism development. This year, North Korea opened the long-awaited Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area in Gangwon Province. This site is the largest and most modern coastal resort in North Korea.
North Korea’s tourist sites possess significant potential to evolve into major hubs for inter-Korean exchange and cooperation, similar to earlier tourism initiatives at Mount Kumgang and Kaesong.
In 2007, former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and Kim Jong Il discussed establishing a direct flight route from Mount Paekdu to Seoul. However, the 2008 shooting incident involving Park Wang-ja halted tourism at Mount Kumgang and soured inter-Korean relations, ultimately resulting in the cancellation of Mount Paekdu tourism.
During the Moon Jae-in administration, when inter-Korean dialogue was active, a preview of Mount Paekdu tourism became possible at a summit. In September 2018, former President Moon flew from Pyongyang International Airport to Samjiyon Airport and ascended to the summit of Mount Paekdu alongside Kim Jong Un. At that time, Moon expressed confidence that South Korean citizens would soon have the opportunity to visit Mount Paekdu.
While it remains uncertain whether North Korea will soon welcome South Korean tourists, experts view the expansion of Samjiyon Airport—located near the North Korean-Chinese border and close to Russia’s Far East—as a significant development for the country’s tourism industry.
Professor Lim Eul Chul of Kyungnam University’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies stated that Kim has expressed a commitment to actively develop additional tourism resources to international standards while launching the Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area. He analyzes that this suggests Kim’s strategy to simultaneously create multiple tourist complexes to attract more foreign visitors.