rooster59 Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dabhand Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamgeorgeallen Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 probably better to risk holidaying in thailand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Mega Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 oh great North Korea has a new airport. best I bump that up to the top of my must visit list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
titanio82 Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 Great, bucket list updated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnywishbone Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 I could go there to get a really cool haircut just like that egg shaped guy who executes his relatives with anti aircraft guns.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coma Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 Nothing like the "Chinese tourist dollar" to prop up a regime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khon Kaen Dave Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adhd Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 a report without a picture is (not) worth my time ! ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicog Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Argus Tuft Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 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... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Argus Tuft Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 3 hours ago, adhd said: a report without a picture is (not) worth my time ! ? Not so good with google adhd?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawker9000 Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveAustin Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retiredandhappyhere Posted September 25, 2016 Share Posted September 25, 2016 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawrenceChee Posted September 25, 2016 Share Posted September 25, 2016 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 50sSent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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