North Korean air show highlights new airport as tourism draw

ERIC TALMADGE, Associated Press

 

WONSAN, North Korea (AP) — North Korea on Saturday opened an air festival featuring sky diving, demonstrations by its air force and lots of beer to promote a newly renovated and upgraded commercial airport in the coastal city of Wonsan that it hopes will draw more foreign tourists.

 

The two-day International Friendship Air Festival has been touted for months by the North as part of its ongoing effort to draw more tourists to the area, which is already popular with Chinese tourists and in the past attracted many Japanese, who came by ferry.

 

Japanese visits dropped off abruptly as political relations deteriorated over revelations that North Korea had abducted more than a dozen Japanese people in the 1970s and 80s and then over its nuclear weapons and long-range missile programs.

 

The new Wonsan airport features a sparkling terminal building with cafes, shops and an airy, glass-walled modern design. Aircraft from the national flag-carrier, Air Koryo, were lined up on the tarmac in a static display.

 

A Hughes 500 helicopter, modified for military use, started off the show with a low-to-ground display of hovering and aerobatic techniques. The U.S.-made helicopter has been shown here previously, raising questions about whether the North had obtained the helicopters in violation of sanctions.

 

A MiG-29, a Russian fighter jet, roared over the crowd to loud roars of cheers and applause.

 

The airport — officially called Kalma Airport — had previously been used by the military.

 

Thousands of Koreans turned out for the opening, along with a crowd of foreign journalists and tourists invited to attend the event.

 

North Korea has been trying to promote tourism for years, but its efforts have been severely hindered by international sanctions and political tensions over its nuclear weapons program.

 

The North tested its fifth nuclear weapon earlier this month, bring sharp criticism from its neighbors and especially the U.S.

 

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-09-24

Just don't try and steal a poster from your hotel. Fifteen tears hard labour.

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/north-korea-sentences-american-us-student-to-15-years-hard-labour-in-prison-for-stealing-a-poster-a6933756.html

 

No thanks.

probably better to risk holidaying in thailand.

oh great North Korea has a new airport.

best I bump that up to the top of my must visit list.

Great, bucket list updated!

I could go there to get a really cool haircut just like that egg shaped guy who executes his relatives with anti aircraft guns.


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Nothing like the "Chinese tourist dollar" to prop up a regime.

Who,in their right mind would want to visit a piss hole of a country like North Korea? It may have some beauty spots and some good Kimchi,but to put money into a country where the leader lets his people starve,feeds his enemy's to ravenous dogs and cant wait to blow up the world.I would go to hell first.

a report without a picture is (not) worth my time ! ?

I'd actually like to go and see the place, if only for a few days.
 

Trouble is it would probably put you on every watch list on the planet.

 

11 hours ago, dabhand said:

Just don't try and steal a poster from your hotel. Fifteen tears hard labour.

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/north-korea-sentences-american-us-student-to-15-years-hard-labour-in-prison-for-stealing-a-poster-a6933756.html

 

No thanks.

 

I'd be shedding more than 15 tears if that happened to me.  Just my opinion...

3 hours ago, adhd said:

a report without a picture is (not) worth my time ! ?

 

Not so good with google adhd??

 

 

They'll need lots & lots of feelgood tourist statistics, rosy public statements, and extravagant travel-destination claims.  Now where do you suppose they could go to get some help with that...    And isn't there a U.S. Army defector who's been living in N. Korea since the Korean War and thinks the place is just divoon?   He could head up the defensive expat brigade. 

I'd actually like to go and see the place, if only for a few days.
 
Trouble is it would probably put you on every watch list on the planet.

Me too, but a fanciful idea and not cool when you think about it. It's selfish to want to go there, ultimately putting money in that bastard's pocket with everything he's doing there.

With all the places in the world to visit, why would anyone want to go to North Korea and risk never being able to come back?

Nothing like the "Chinese tourist dollar" to prop up a regime.

The numbers are not in big numbers and the draw is actually ”nothing"

It means the city folks from northeast China are actually going there to relax their minds ...there is no cell phone signal for most parts, no wifi , no crowds , no distraction and just clean forests that reminds the Chinese of China in the 50s



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