For the first time in 50 years, commercial aircraft will be allowed to fly through North Korean airspace.
South Korea and North Korea agreed to open their flight information regions (FIRs) to each other at a meeting in Bangkok.
Already described by South Korea as a landmark accord in non-political relations between the two Koreas, the agreement will significantly cut current flight times between the Russian Far East and the rest of Asia, and shorten some polar flights between North America, Europe and parts of Asia.
"The two sides agreed to establish a direct communications network between control towers in Taegu in South Korea, and Pyongyang in North Korea," director general for civil aviation at the Ministry of Construction and Transportation, Sohn Soon-ryong, said.
The deal will enable South Korean airlines to save a combined US$120 million a year in operating expenses, while also helping financially-strapped North Korea earn about $5m revenue annually from the South Korean airlines. These will pay about $120 per flight to fly across North Korea. Both South and North Korea have banned each other's national flag carriers from passing through their skies since the nation was divided in 1945.
"The two pledged to guarantee the safety of aircraft flying in their respective FIRs," Sohn added. Currently, South Korean airlines flying Seoul-North American routes fly over Japanese airspace. South Korean aircraft bound for Khabarovsk and Vladivostok also detour from the North Korean zone.