New satellite imagery shows all three of North Korea’s largest cargo jets have moved to a remote part of Pyongyang airport since Sunday, after an informed source told NK News the Air Koryo Il-76s went to Shenyang in China to pick up COVID-19-related supplies.

The Planet Labs imagery shows what appear to be three planes matching the dimensions of the Il-76s at the Shenyang airport on Monday morning as well, representing possibly the first visual evidence of the flights.

South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency also reported that three Il-76s flew to Shenyang on Monday, but without supporting images.

The flights would represent Air Koryo’s first known operation abroad since March 2020, after suspending all international flights as part of the DPRK’s anti-pandemic measures. 

The three Air Koryo Il-76 cargo planes appeared in an unusual spot at the Pyongyang airport on Tuesday around 11:15 a.m. after what an informed source said were flights to Shenyang the previous day | Images: Planet Labs PBH, edited by NK News

As of around 11 a.m. on Tuesday, the three Il-76s — whose tail numbers are P-912, P-913 and P-914 — appeared parked on the little-used northern runway of the Pyongyang International Airport.

New high-resolution imagery taken late on Wednesday (below) shows what may be evidence of goods being offloaded from the planes and stored on this remote section of the runway, possibly due to concerns they could contaminate other parts of the facilities.

It is unclear if the reportedly imported COVID-19-related goods are being quarantined on the runway, and if so, the duration of the quarantine period.

However, this area of the runway – surrounding a large agricultural field – has also seen increased activity and dozens of trucks and buses appear in similar spots during planting and harvesting seasons, so it cannot be ruled out that the apparent containers are related to agricultural work.

Prior to the current outbreak, which state media said began at the end of last month, North Korean state media frequently warned that COVID-19 could be carried into the country on surfaces, and even dust and snow. 

Authorities also appeared to pour significant time and resources into setting up a highly secure import disinfection facility along the border with China, all in order to prevent people from becoming infected with the virus coming in on imported goods. The two sides suspended this trade route last month amid rising COVID case numbers on the Chinese side of the border.

The apparent first international Air Koryo flights in over two years this week suggest authorities have rethought their extreme anxiety over international flights, at least in this one instance. 

It is yet to be seen if North Korea has completely abandoned their zero-COVID approach and extreme caution in relation to quarantining and disinfecting goods — meaning Pyongyang could resume more air trade — or if this week’s flights were a special exception.

Edited by Arius Derr

Updated on May 19 at 7 a.m. with new high-resolution satellite imagery