Work is underway to expand the aircraft parking area at the Pyongyang International Airport passenger terminal, according to NK Pro analysis of satellite imagery, in a possible sign of North Korea’s intention to acquire new commercial planes. 

Planet Labs satellite imagery shows that a new area around 310 feet wide (95 meters), large enough to fit two large passenger aircraft, has been paved to the north of the terminal in recent days.

The construction project started in early September with the demolition of an existing building, while construction on what appears to be an administrative building behind the newly paved area also started around the same time.

An expansion would be consistent with plans to acquire new aircraft for national carrier Air Koryo’s fleet, especially as parking aprons to the north and south of the terminal and one opposite the runway have appeared at full capacity in recent years.

It is unlikely to be related to creating more room for visiting planes, since the airport was not busy enough to require more boarding areas for temporary visits even before the DPRK imposed pandemic border closures. Authorities have yet to reopen general tourism activities to the country.

There have typically been 18 Air Koryo planes parked at the three aprons on a given day in recent years: two Il-62s, two Tu-204s, three Tu-154s, two Tu-134s, two An-148s, three An-24s, an Il-18 and three Il-76 cargo planes.

After only operating domestically during the pandemic, Air Koryo resumed irregular international flights in August and has shown signs in recent weeks of restarting regular flights to Vladivostok and Beijing. 

The Tu-204 passenger jets appears to have been the most used model for these recent flights, according to the NK Pro Aviation Tracker.

AIRCRAFT ACQUISITIONS

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) reportedly told lawmakers this week that it believes North Korea is preparing to “bring in Russian fighter jets and passenger planes” and is “currently selecting personnel to go to Russia for flight and maintenance training.”

This follows an accusation by the U.S. in March that a Slovakian individual had “worked with a Russian individual to locate commercial aircraft suitable for delivery to the DPRK.” 

Russia told the U.N. Panel of Experts on North Korea sanctions that the claim is “unsubstantiated” and “unconfirmed,” according to the panel’s latest report released last week. The report said Slovakia has not replied to an inquiry on the matter.

In 2018, Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexander Matsegora said Moscow was “actively advocating that the DPRK be allowed to buy civilian aircraft” and that North Korea was “in dire need of updating its fleet.”

U.N. Security Council Resolution 2397, passed with Russia’s help in late 2017, prohibits all member states from transferring any kind of aircraft to North Korea.

NK Pro reported in 2020 that two Tu-204 passenger jets were painted with Air Koryo’s livery at a Russian airport the previous year, minus its name and logo.

This suggested the two planes were destined for Pyongyang, but they were never delivered and Kyrgyzstan-based Sky KG Airlines reportedly took control of the two planes — later adding its name to the existing Air Koryo color scheme.

The planes never entered service and were moved to Moscow’s Zhukovsky International Airport in Oct. 2021, where they have sat idle through to this week, according to Planet Labs and Google Earth imagery.

It’s possible that the planes, which would fit side-by-side in the new parking area at Pyongyang airport, will still end up in North Korea given that they still aren’t in service.

Edited by Bryan Betts