On Tuesday, it was confirmed that Air Koryo, North Korea’s sole airline, is operating a regular nighttime route between Pyongyang and Shanghai. This development aligns with North Korea’s announced plans to expand its tourism industry this year, suggesting a diversification of its tourism offerings.
A Chinese social media user, identifying themselves as a travel blogger, recently shared a video of purchasing a ticket at Air Koryo’s headquarters last November. The footage also captured a flight schedule board adjacent to the ticket counter.
The notice board displayed information about Air Koryo’s winter flight schedule from October 26, 2025, to March 28, 2026, detailing flight numbers and operating days.
The Pyongyang-Shanghai route operates as a round-trip service on Thursday and Sunday nights. Flight JS157 departs Pyongyang at 8 PM, arriving at 9:40 PM, while Flight JS158 leaves Shanghai at 10:45 PM, landing in Pyongyang at 2:15 AM the following day.
Last June, NK News, a U.S.-based media outlet focusing on North Korea, reported sightings of Air Koryo planes flying the Pyongyang-Shanghai route at night, based on data from FlightRadar24. It appears this route has since been established as a regular service, marking Air Koryo’s first nighttime route since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Furthermore, the Pyongyang-Vladivostok route, which increased from two to three weekly flights last March, continues to operate thrice weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays this year.
Air Koryo also operates regular domestic flights, with services between Pyongyang and Samjiyon and Eorang scheduled for Tuesdays and Fridays.
North Korea, which had sealed its borders and halted external exchanges during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been gradually reopening. The active scheduling of domestic and international routes since last year appears directly linked to this year’s tourism expansion plans.
Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party, during his inspection of the large-scale Wonsan Kalma coastal resort last June, announced plans to create extensive tourism and cultural districts nationwide. He stated that a major plan to construct promising large-scale tourism and cultural complexes across various regions would be confirmed at the upcoming 9th Workers’ Party Congress.
Kim Mi Yeon, a senior researcher at KDB Future Strategy Research Institute specializing in North Korea’s economic industries, noted ongoing efforts to enhance the overall tourism infrastructure. These improvements include streamlining online booking and payment systems, and upgrading transportation and facilities. She predicts North Korea aims to transition from short-term, observational tourism to long-term leisure stays, utilizing hotel facilities capable of accommodating around 20,000 guests.