Kalma Airport
{{Short description|Airport in Wonsan, North Korea}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = Wonsan Airport
| image = Kalma Airport.jpg
| IATA = WOS
| ICAO = ZKWS
| type = Military/Public
| owner = North Korean government
| city-served = Wonsan
Munchon
Anbyon
| location = Wonsan, Kangwon-do, North Korea
| opened = {{Start date|2015|09|24}} (commercial flights)
| coordinates = {{coord|39|9|59|N|127|29|3|E|region:KP|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map = North Korea
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in North Korea
| pushpin_label = WOS
| r1-number = 15R/33L
| r1-length-f = 10,252
| r1-length-m = 3,125
| r1-surface = Concrete
| r2-number = 15L/33R
| r2-length-f = 11,482
| r2-length-m = 3,500
| r2-surface = Concrete
| r3-number = 02/20
| r3-length-f = 1,640
| r3-length-m = 500
| r3-surface = Asphalt
}}
{{Infobox Korean name
| hangul = 갈마비행장
| hanja = 葛麻飛行場
| rr = Galma Bihaengjang
| mr = Kalma Pihaengjang
}}
Kalma Airport {{airport codes|WOS|ZKWS}} is a dual-use civil and military airport in Wonsan, Kangwon-do, North Korea. A new international terminal and passenger ramp opened in September 2015.{{cn|date=October 2020}}
History
=Korean War=
The Republic of Korea Army Capital Division captured Wonsan Airfield on 10 October 1950.{{cite book|last= Futrell|first= Robert Frank|title= The United States Air Force in Korea, 1950–1953|location= Washington, D.C.|publisher= Office of Air Force History, United States Air Force|year=1983|url=https://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329903/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-022.pdf|isbn= 9780912799711|oclc= 7555397|page=212}}{{PD-notice}} On 13 October, Major General Field Harris, commander of the 1st Marine Air Wing, flew into the airfield, followed the next day by VMF-312 and other elements of Marine Aircraft Group 12.{{cite book|last=Smith|first=Charles|title=U.S. Marines in the Korean War|publisher=Government Printing Office|year=2007|url=https://www.marines.mil/Portals/59/Publications/Marines%20in%20Korean%20War.pdf?ver=2017-04-28-103225-650|isbn=9780160872518|page=195}}{{PD-notice}} The airfield was used by the United States Marine Corps and USAF under the designation K-25. By 12 October the USAF's Cargo Combat Command was flying supplies into the airfield.
UN forces evacuated Wonsan in December 1950. The Blockade of Wonsan rendered the airfield unusable for the remainder of the war.
=Modernisation=
In July 2013, Kim Jong-un approved plans for a complete redesign of the airport, turning it into an international airport for civilian use. The new airport was designed by the Chinese architectural firm PLT Planning & Architecture. The redesign will include two 36,000-square-foot oval-shaped terminals, one serving domestic flights and one serving international flights, that will each contain six gates and several duty-free stores. The runways will also be extended to 3500 metres. It is expected to cost US$200 million.{{cite news|last= Wong|first= Olga|title= Kim Jong-un gives nod to Hong Kong firm to redesign Pyongyang airport|url= http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1292724/kim-jong-un-gives-nod-hong-kong-firm|work= South China Morning Post|date= 29 July 2013|access-date= 29 July 2013}}
On 24 September 2015, the first commercial civilian flight landed at Wonsan Airport as a part of an aviation-related tour with thirty passengers.{{cn|date=October 2020}} Photographs of the inaugural flight reveal a very much redesigned terminal building, doing away with the original dual-terminal circular layout. The new terminal has a single L-shaped building.
It is reported that the airport cost around $200 million to build, with most of the work being carried out by the military. In July 2015, the first major event, an aeronautics display and contest, took place at the airport.{{cite news | url=https://www.nknews.org/2015/07/wonsan-airport-nears-completion-with-potential-for-impact-on-tourism-and-economy/ | title=Wonsan Airport nears completion, with potential for impact on tourism and economy | work=NK News | date=30 July 2015 | access-date=15 January 2017 | author=Grisafi, John | archive-date=16 June 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616230506/https://www.nknews.org/2015/07/wonsan-airport-nears-completion-with-potential-for-impact-on-tourism-and-economy/ | url-status=dead }}
In September 2016 the Wonsan Air Festival took place for the first time, with the Korean People's Army Air Force and the North Korean airline Air Koryo displaying a number of their aircraft.[http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a19500/north-korea-wonsan-air-show/ North Korea is Hosting its First Air Show February 18, 2016] Popular Mechanics Retrieved February 3, 2017[https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/2016/09/26/north-koreas-wonsan-friendship-air-festival/91121286/ North Korea's Wonsan Friendship Air Festival] USA Today Retrieved February 3, 2017[http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/north-korea-shows-off-fighter-jets-its-first-international-air-show-1583340 North Korea shows off fighter jets at its first international air show September 26, 2016] International Business Times Retrieved February 3, 2017 A second edition was planned for September 2017 but it was cancelled amidst international tensions.[https://www.nknews.org/2017/08/north-korea-cancels-2017-wonsan-air-show/ North Korea cancels 2017 Wonsan Air Show August 25, 2017] NHK Retrieved September 7, 2017[http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/2108644/north-korea-scraps-wonsan-air-show-sanctions-tighten North Korea scraps Wonsan Air Show as sanctions tighten August 28, 2017] South China Morning Post Retrieved September 8, 2017
Asiana Airlines became the first foreign airline to operate to the newly reconstructed airport at Wonsan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/asiana-airlines/first-intra-korea-flight-by-asiana-airlines-airbus-a321-wonsan-to-yongyang/|title=First intra Korea flight by Asiana Airlines Airbus A321, Wonsan to Yongyang|last=Driessche|first=Maarten Van Den|date=February 1, 2018|website=Aviation24.be|language=en-GB}} Air Koryo previously operated charter services from the original Wonsan Airport to South Korea prior to the end of the Sunshine policy.{{Citation needed|date=October 2019}}
In July 2018 a C-17 of the US Air Force's 204th Airlift Squadron collected 55 cases of human remains from Wonsan. It is thought that these are remains of US or other UN servicemen from the Korean War.{{cite news |author= |title=War Remains Could Also Be Of French, Australian Soldiers: Jim Mattis |url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/war-remains-could-also-be-of-french-australian-soldiers-jim-mattis-1891097 |work=NDTV |date=July 27, 2018 |access-date=July 28, 2018 }} The C-17 then flew to Osan Air Base in South Korea.{{cite news |last=Fichtl |first=Marcus |date=July 26, 2018 |title=N. Korea hands over 55 cases of remains thought to be US war dead |url=https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/n-korea-hands-over-55-cases-of-remains-thought-to-be-us-war-dead-1.539731 |work=Stars and Stripes |access-date=July 27, 2018 }}{{cite news |last=Maresca |first=Thomas |date=July 26, 2018 |title=North Korea hands over remains said to be US soldiers from Korean War, White House says |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/07/26/report-us-plane-leaves-north-korea-pick-up-us-war-remains/846651002/ |work=USA Today |access-date=July 27, 2018 }}
Infrastructure
Wonsan Airport has two runways. A new runway was constructed parallel to the existing main runway, which is 375 metres longer. The existing runway was converted into a taxiway. A new terminal opened in 2015 to allow the airport to serve commercial passenger flights. The new construction features 2 jetbridges and a newly designed apron that can accommodate 12 commercial aircraft at any one time.
Airlines and destinations
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Portalbar|North Korea|Aviation}}
{{Airports in North Korea}}
{{authority control}}
{{US Air Force}}
Category:Airports in North Korea
Category:1940 establishments in Korea
Category:Airports in Korea under Japanese rule