By Teo Cheng Wee

The first direct chartered flight from Singapore to North Korea will take off from Changi Airport in September, reflecting a growing demand here for tours to one of the world's most reclusive states.

Singapore is only the fourth country in the world to establish direct flights with North Korea, after China, Russia and Thailand.

Direct flights will allow Singapore tourists to save time and money, said Mr Khoo Boo Liat, the managing director of Universal Travel Corporation (UTC).

The company has been the only authorised agent here for North Korean tours since 1993.

As independent travel to North Korea is not allowed, all visitors to the country must book packages through the state-owned Korea International Travel Company (KITC) or its agents.

Currently, Singapore travellers have to fly through China, staying a night there while waiting for a connecting flight.

A shorter itinerary translates into savings of around $200 for a tour package. An 11-day tour which cost $2,200 previously can now be worked into a nine-day tour for $2,000.

UTC chartered these flights with North Korean national carrier Air Koryo.

Mr Khoo said that direct flights were previously not an option because of Air Koryo's aged fleet of Russian-made Tupolev planes, which are about 20 years old.

Furthermore, the fuel consumption of the old planes was double that of newer ones and their noise emission level was higher than what is allowed at Changi Airport.

But the airline acquired a new Tupolev 204-300 last December, which can seat 142 passengers.

Singaporeans have become one of the biggest groups of visitors to North Korea. Visitor numbers hovered at around 100 to 200 a year in the last five years, but is expected to hit 500 this year.

They currently form the third largest contingent of visitors, behind China, which makes up some 90 per cent of the 100,000 tourists that North Korea gets annually, and the United Kingdom.

The key attraction in North Korea is the Arirang Festival, a spectacular mass display that involves 80,000 acrobats, dancers and soldiers. The festival runs for about a month every spring and autumn.

KITC director Kim Hyok said that the direct flights would 'not only improve tourism, but build a better relationship between the two countries'.

Mr Khoo said that more direct flights would be chartered next year if the response to the first five flights were good.

Retiree Peter Poh, 56, is one of those who will be on the inaugural flight to Pyongyang on Sept 18.

Mr Poh, who is married to a South Korean, lived in Seoul for four years in the 1980s and has always wanted to see what North Korea is like.

'I'm really excited to be on the first flight,' he said.

This article was first published in The Sunday Times on July 13, 2008.