By Nicole Low For Daily Mail Australia
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A Singaporean photographer – who filmed the world’s first look inside a North Korean bank – has become the first person to clear customs at the secretive communist nation’s dazzling new airport.
Aram Pan flew into Wonsan International Airport, also known as Kalma Airport, in Wonsan, a port city east of the capital Pyongyang on September 24.
Mr Pan and about 30 other travellers, who had joined a tour for aviation enthusiasts, were on the first commercial flight to land at the new airport, a former military base.
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Construction of the airport began in early July 2014. It was built by the KPA Military Construction Unit and was completed in early July 2015
Arrivals and departures: Kalma Airport will officially open in November this year. It can handle 2,000 passengers per day
Singaporean Aram Pan (right) and his guide Miss Kim (left) were the first foreigner and local to clear customs in North Korea’s newest airport
‘Me and my local guide became the first passengers to check into this yet-to-open airport,’ Mr Pan told Daily Mail Australia.
He added that his expectations had been low, but he was dazzled with what he saw at the new airport.
‘I was expecting a very basic airport. I didn’t expect it to be so fancy. I was expecting zinc roofs,’ Mr Pan said.
‘But it was nothing like that. It was nice and shiny.’
‘I was really, really impressed. I wasn’t expecting something of such a quality. I went to look at the workmanship, how they did the escalators, the glass lifts… it was all really well-made. Everything was built by army,’ Mr Pan added.
Mr Pan shot photos of the facility and also filmed a 360 virtual tour video of the airport.
The floors at the airport are made of marble, Mr Pan observed, after he and 30 other tourists arrived on the first commercial plane to land at Kalma Airport
When it opens in November, Kalma Airport will be able to process some 2,000 domestic passengers daily, with plans for international flights in the near future
Air Koryo flight attendants were on board the first passenger flight to land at North Korea’s newest and second biggest airport
The new airport is scheduled to open in November, initially handling domestic flights only.
However, refuelling services are being planned in the near future so as to accommodate international flights.
When it opens, Kalma Airport will be able to handle 2,000 passengers a day.
‘From what I understand, they’re planning to develop the whole Wonsan area. They’re anticipating these 2,000 people will come,’ Mr Pan told Daily Mail Australia.
Mr Pan says he was ‘impressed’ by the workmanship and facilities, including these glass lifts, throughout the airport
Shiny new marble flooring await passengers who arrive at Kalma Airport which took about a year to complete
Kalma Airport is in Wonsan, a port city east of the capital Pyongyang
Plans are under way to develop the Wonsan area, with hopes the new airport will bring local and foreign tourists
‘I didn’t expect it to be so fancy. I was expecting zinc roofs,’ Mr Pan told Daily Mail Australia after he became the first foreigner to clear customs at Kalma Airport
Kalma Airport (pictured) is the second largest airport in North Korea, topped only by Pyongyang Sunan International Airport
In 2013, the North Korean government announced ambitious plans to turn the Wonsan area into a summer vacation destination.
Local authorities are hopeful the new airport will boost tourism, telling NK News that Kalma Airport will bring foreigners and foreign currency into the area.
The airport is the second largest in North Korea and its construction is estimated to have cost some US$200 million dollars, NK News reported.
The largest airport is Pyongyang Sunan International Airport, in the capital city.
Mr Pan’s trip was sponsored by the British Juche Travel Services which flew him to North Korea from Singapore.
For more photos from Aram Pan’s North Korea trips visit his website and Facebook page.
Kalma Airport was a former military base. According to NK News, an architectural firm based in Hong Kong designed the new airport
The empty, yet-to-be open airport in Wonsan, which lies east of the capital city Pyongyang
Authorities are hopeful that these parking spaces will be full when the airport opens in November
Say cheese: Mr Pan joined aviation enthusiasts on the first passenger flight to Kalma Airport
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