Nonstop flight route between Anchorage, Alaska, United States and Pyongyang, North Korea:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF), Anchorage, Alaska, United States and Pyongyang Sunan International Airport (FNJ), Pyongyang, North Korea would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,720 miles (or 5,987 kilometers).

A Great Circle is the shortest distance between 2 points on a sphere. Because most world maps are flat (but the Earth is round), the route of the shortest distance between 2 points on the Earth will often appear curved when viewed on a flat map, especially for long distances. If you were to simply draw a straight line on a flat map and measure a very long distance, it would likely be much further than if you were to lay a string between those two points on a globe. Because of the large distance between Elmendorf Air Force Base and Pyongyang Sunan International Airport, the route shown on this map most likely appears curved because of this reason.

Try it at home! Get a globe and tightly lay a string between Elmendorf Air Force Base and Pyongyang Sunan International Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!

Departure Airport Information:

Arrival Airport Information:

Facts about Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF):

• The installation hosts the headquarters for the United States Alaskan Command, 11th Air Force, U.S.
• On 28 July 2010, a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft practicing for an upcoming airshow crashed into a wooded area within the base, killing all four air crew members.
• The closest airport to Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF) is Merrill Field (MRI), which is located only 3 miles (5 kilometers) SSW of EDF.
• The furthest airport from Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF) is Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), which is located 10,542 miles (16,965 kilometers) away in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
• In addition to being known as "Elmendorf Air Force Base", another name for EDF is "JB Elmendorf-Richardson".
• The late 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s brought about a gradual, but significant decline in air defense forces in Alaska due to mission changes and the demands of the Vietnam War.
• The first Air Force unit to be assigned to Alaska, the 18th Pursuit Squadron, arrived in February 1941.

Facts about Pyongyang Sunan International Airport (FNJ):

• Because of Pyongyang Sunan International Airport's relatively low elevation of 117 feet, planes can take off or land at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.
• In addition to being known as "Pyongyang Sunan International Airport", other names for FNJ include "평양순안국제공항" and "P'yŏngyang Sunan Kukche Konghang".
• The airport can cater to four aircraft simultaneously.
• Pyongyang Sunan International Airport (FNJ) has 2 runways.
• The closest airport to Pyongyang Sunan International Airport (FNJ) is Incheon International Airport (ICN), which is located 129 miles (207 kilometers) SSE of FNJ.
• The main runway is equipped with ILS systems for precision approaches from both directions.
• The furthest airport from Pyongyang Sunan International Airport (FNJ) is Astor Piazzolla International Airport (MDQ), which is nearly antipodal to Pyongyang Sunan International Airport (meaning Pyongyang Sunan International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Astor Piazzolla International Airport), and is located 12,240 miles (19,699 kilometers) away in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.
• The airport is the main hub for the national flag carrier, Air Koryo.