Since COVID, North Korea has not had any international flights from its national airline go outside the country. None. So they had today's flight to Beijing as a much-hyped return to normalcy, or whatever passes for normal in the most closed society on the planet. Alas, it was not to be as the flight was cancelled at the last minute. No explanation was given.

Probably not the biggest loss, however. Air Koryo was once the world's only one-star rated airline. But since they stopped flying internationally they weren't even rated.

Source: The Guardian

North Korea’s national airline’s first commercial flight since it largely closed itself off from the world in early 2020 in response to the Covid pandemic has been abruptly cancelled.

Journalists gathered on Monday at Beijing’s Capital international airport to await Air Koryo flight JS151 from Pyongyang, due to arrive at 9.50am.

But almost two hours after its scheduled arrival, the arrivals board in the terminal showed it as cancelled, prompting groans of disappointment from media waiting to see some of the isolated country’s first international travellers in years.

Beijing airport customer service told AFP that Air Koryo, Pyongyang’s national air carrier, had not given a reason for the cancellation.

AFP reporters gathered on the scene went to get some answers.

AFP reporters who knocked on the bolted glass doors of Air Koryo’s Beijing office on Monday afternoon startled a man dozing on the sofa in the darkened room.

A second man who opened the door responded to AFP’s questions by repeatedly saying: “We don’t know.”

These two jokers celebrated a few days ago with the announcement. "North Korea opens doors for Russians The North Korean company Air Koryo launched a direct flight from Pyongyang to Vladivostok. The ticket price is $230. Visa not required."