Up to a few months ago, a 150-meter (492-foot) tall tower across the river from Kim Il Sung Square is your only option if you wanted a bird’s eye view of North Korea. These days, you can climb aboard an ultralight aircraft – if you have the cash.
Foreign tourism firms are looking to lure visitors with unique things to do besides visit war museums and political monuments. Due to this, a Pyongyang flying club began offering quick flights over some of the capital’s foremost sights.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supports the endeavor. Moreover, he promised to give North Koreans more contemporary and cultured ways to spend their free time.
The tours started late July and are operated by the Mirim flying club from a fancy new facility on an old airfield.
At least 4,000 North Koreans, along with hundreds of foreigners from 12 countries have gone up in the ultralight since, according to officials.
The flights go precisely over some of Pyongyang’s most iconic locations. These include the May Day stadium, Kim Il Sung Square area, the torch-tipped Juche Tower, and the Munsu Water Park.
Before the tour can get off the ground, considerations of sites best not exposed to flyovers were almost definitely a factor. Further, club officials inspect photos taken from the air after each flight.
Viewing the city from almost 6,500 feet while leisurely making your way through the skies offers quite a unique perspective. Tourists and most residents had never been able to achieve these feats before.
Expensive aerial tour
The flights aren’t cheap, though. A 25-minute flight from the airstrip to Kim Il Sung Square and the Juche Tower goes for about $150. Shorter flights, which only fly around the proximate area of the flight club are offered at more affordable prices. Prices start at around $65.
Club officials would not say how much but prices for North Koreans are much cheaper.
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