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BEIJING - FLAG carrier Air China will launch three weekly flights to North Korea from early next year, state media reported, signalling gradually warming ties between the two nations.
Flight CA121 will leave Beijing for the North Korean capital of Pyongyang every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday, citing Ms Zhang Lan, vice-president of Air China.
'The new route will offer convenience for the exchanges and cooperation between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in culture, education and technology,' said Ms Zhang, using North Korea's official name.
Air Koryo, North Korea's flag carrier, is currently the only airline plying the route.
China Southern, the nation's largest carrier by fleet size, previously also transported passengers between the two cities but later halted operations.
According to South Korean and Japanese media, this happened in response to North Korea's nuclear weapons test in October 2006.
The fact that flights are now being resumed could indicate Chinese satisfaction with North Korea's attitude towards international efforts at disarming its nuclear capability, analysts say.
North Korea is now declaring and disabling its nuclear arsenal as part of a landmark six-nation deal under which it is given energy aid assurances and diplomatic and security guarantees in return for abandoning its weapons. -- AFP
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