North Korean state media reports and commercial satellite imagery indicate that work has begun to transform the Samjiyon Airfield into the country’s third modern commercial airport. The work is the latest in a multi-stage, multi-year effort to turn the region into what Kim Jong Un described as a “socialist utopia.” 

Background 

Samjiyon is located near the border with China but, more importantly, sits at the foot of Mt. Paektu, the mythical birthplace of the Korean nation. After a visit in 2013, Kim Jong Un directed the redevelopment of the once sleepy regional town into a modern city and the area was transformed over the next several years. 

The redevelopment brought a new railway line, power lines and communications infrastructure, and almost completely rebuilt the town to include many new hotels, civic buildings and sports facilities. But the Samjiyon Airfield, located 12 kilometers to the northeast of the city, was left untouched. 

The New Terminal 

The new project will significantly upgrade the airport, according to images of the proposed construction broadcast by Korean Central Television on July 18. The images showed a new terminal building, carrying the name “Samjiyon International Airport” connected to a railway station and an expanded apron on the airfield. 

Commercial satellite imagery from September 20 shows construction is well underway. The terminal is taking shape and supports for the new railway station have been set. Work is also progressing on what will become the new rail bed. 

Figure 1. Overview of Samjiyon Airfield on imagery from September 20, 2025. Image © 2025 Planet Labs, PBC cc-by-nc-sa 4.0. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].
Figure 2. Construction on a new terminal and railway station at Samjiyon Airfield reflect progress to transform the airfield into North Korea’s third modern commercial airport. Image © 2025 Planet Labs, PBC cc-by-nc-sa 4.0. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].

The illustration broadcast on state television shows four of five railway lines heading into the station, a new control tower and two jet bridges at the terminal. This would mirror the terminal at Wonsan-Kalma Airport, which is North Korea’s second modern commercial airport after Sunan Intenrational Airport in Pyongyang. It appears the apron will be expanded to meet the new terminal, new taxiways will be constructed, and the old terminal building will be torn down. 

Figure 3. Screenshot from a July Korean Central Television broadcast shows renderings of the proposed Samjiyon Airport project. (Source: Korean Central Television)