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Air Koryo's scheduled Kuwait flights halted since February: NK News

By KH디지털2

Published : May 11, 2016 - 16:48

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North Korea's national airline, Air Koryo, has not operated its scheduled Pyongyang to Kuwait route since February, a U.S.-based Internet media report said Wednesday, apparently affected by the tightening of international sanctions.

Quoting data from FlightRadar24, which provides flight information around the world, NK News reported the North Korean flag carrier's Pyongyang-Kuwait route by JS161 and return flight

JS162 was last made on Feb. 23 and 24. The North Korean flight normally conducts a transit and re-fueling stop in Islamabad, Pakistan, on the Pyongyang-Kuwait route.

The route is now also absent from the North Korean airline company's online flight timetable, according to NK News which specializes in North Korean affairs.

Absence of flights on national airline's schedule may indicate impact of U.N. Security Council's resolution passed in early March, NK News said, adding the Air Koryo's long-distance international flight has become difficult after stricter sanctions imposed on the communist country by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

The U.N. slapped the reclusive country with its most stringent sanctions yet after Pyongyang conducted its fourth nuclear test in January and followed this up by firing a long-range missile a month later.

The route was operated by North Korea's Tu-204 and P-632 Russian-made jets.

The North Korea watchdog site also said the Air Koryo has recently terminated its once-a-week flight between Pyongyang and Bangkok as a result of the Thai government's endorsement of the UNSC sanctions resolution. (Yonhap)