A U.S.-based media outlet specializing in North Korean affairs, NK News, reported on Thursday that a Russian civilian airline has begun operating routes through North Korean airspace.
According to the flight tracking website FlightRadar24, a Boeing 737 operated by Russian airline S7 entered North Korean airspace for the first time on May 12th while flying from Vladivostok, Russia, to Shanghai, China. This marks a significant shift from the previous practice of utilizing Chinese airspace.
Ed Condit, a retired commercial pilot and aviation expert, suggested to NK News that North Korea’s decision to allow S7 aircraft passage through its airspace could signal and reinforce new economic ties between the two nations.
Condit speculated that S7 might have opted for this route to cut costs by reducing flight distance or capitalizing on favorable wind patterns.
It is believed, however, that fees were likely paid for the privilege of traversing North Korean airspace.
NK News obtained past official documents from Yakutia Airlines, a Russian regional carrier, which revealed an agreement to pay North Korean aviation authorities tens of thousands of dollars annually for flights passing through the Pyongyang Flight Information Region.
These fees reportedly amounted to approximately 60,200 USD in 2015, 84,240 USD in 2017, and 184,190 USD in 2018. It is presumed these payments were transferred to a bank account belonging to Air Koryo’s Vladivostok branch.
While UN Security Council sanctions do not explicitly prohibit third countries from flying through North Korean airspace, the payment of overflight fees could potentially be interpreted as a financial transaction restricted under Resolution 2270.
S7 Airlines resumed its Vladivostok-Shanghai route in April 2024, following its suspension during the pandemic. The route is currently operating three times a week.
Meanwhile, other foreign airlines continue to steer clear of North Korean airspace. Condit explained that this avoidance stems from North Korea’s ongoing unannounced missile launch tests. He added that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has long cautioned that North Korea’s missile activities pose a significant threat to aviation safety.