Air China suspends North Korea flights

Air China has suspended some of its flights to the North Korea, as tensions between Pyongyang and the rest of the world start to simmer.

Initially, China’s state-run broadcaster, CCTV, said that all Air China flights connecting Beijing and Pyongyang, the two countries’ seats of government, had been cancelled indefinitely. No reason was provided.

But Air China later was later reported saying that only some flights between the neighbouring capital cities had been suspended.

“Air China did not stop operation of the Beijing to Pyongyang route, but temporarily cancelled some flights based on the situation of ticket sales,” Air China’s communications team was quoted saying by Reuters. Future flights would be scheduled according to ticket sales, it added.

China is currently trying to ease tensions between North Korea and the US, after Pyongyang warned that it was “ready to hit back with nuclear attacks” if it was provoked by Washington. The US has sent aircraft carriers to the region.

Kim Jong-un led a huge parade in Pyongyang last week, designed to show off the regime’s military strength.