The isolation of The Democratic People's Republic of Korea or North Korea as most of us know it, has reached new heights as the Chinses state-owned airline Air China has put a halt on all flights between Beijing and North Korea from Tuesday. The airline cites a lack of demand for the suspension of air services - including humanitarian supplies and comes as UN sanctions over its nuclear and missile programs start to take effect on the North Korean population.
Many see Air China's actions as a direct response to the US President Donald Trump’s decision to add Pyongyang to a list of governments that support terrorism despite this being denied by the local authorities, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said he had no information.
The suspension of Air China's operations leaves only Air Koryo - the national airline of North Korea, as the only airline with regularly scheduled service from the North to the outside world. Its regular destinations include Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang and Dandong in China and Vladivostok in Russia.
Beijing has supported UN curbs on North Korean exports designed to increase pressure on Kim Jong Un to drop his pursuit of nuclear and missile technology but has argued against measures that might harm the country’s public. However, cutting off flights from Beijing greatly impedes the import of humanitarian and medical supplies to North Korea.
