Koreas open commercial air link

The first commercial flight between the two Koreas took off for Pyeongyang from Incheon yesterday.
One hundred fourteen South Korean tourists boarded a chartered plane, flight No. 916, operated by North Korea’s Air Koryo.
The craft had arrived at Incheon International Airport from Sunan Airport near Pyeongyang and returned to the North Korean capital shortly after its arrival.
The tourists will be in North Korea for five days and four nights. They will tour major points of interest in Pyeongyang, travel to Jeongju, a city north of Pyeongyang, and watch performances by a circus team and kindergarten children in the North’s capital.
The tour was organized by Pyonghwa Air Travel of South Korea. The travel agency was established earlier this year by Pyonghwa Motors, which builds automobiles in the North. The carmaker is affiliated with the Unification Church, which has strong connections to Pyeongyang.
“The Pyeongyang tours will continue until the end of this year,” said an official at the agency. “Beginning Sept. 27, Mount Baekdu tours will begin as well.” The official said the five-day tour to Pyeongyang costs 2.3 million won ($1,970); he said about 1,000 people have already made reservations.
The two governments have also approved six cross-border flights by Asiana Airlines and five by Korean Air in 2003.

by Chang Chung-hoon