Irregular transit stop in Urumqi preferred over Islamabad, possible link to aviation notice issued on August 30

North Korea’s national airline, Air Koryo, altered its JS161 and JS162 routes between Pyongyang and Kuwait this week to include a transit stop at Urumqi Diwopu International Airport (URC) in China instead of Islamabad, Pakistan, FlightRadar24 data shows.

The JS161 and JS162 return flights have always been scheduled to stop in Islamabad prior to completing their route, however data shows the P-632 Tupolev TU204-300 jet landing in Urumqi on the return leg of the flight on August 31.

The JS161 flight path from Pyongyang to Kuwait is incomplete however, once it appears on radar