Mirim Airport

Mirim Airport, also known as Pyongyang East Airfield or K-24 Air Base, is an airport in Mirim-dong, Sadong-guyok, Pyongyang-si, North Korea.

Mirim Airport Pyongyang East Airfield
미림비행장 美林飛行場 Mirim bihaengjang Mirim pihaengjang
Site information
Type	Military airfield
Owner	Korean People's Army Air Force
Controlled by	Korean People's Army Air Force
Condition	used by ultralight aircraft only
Location
Mirim Show map of North Korea Mirim Show map of Asia Mirim Show map of North Pacific Mirim Show map of Earth
Coordinates	39°0′35″N 125°50′50″E
Site history
Built	1940s
Built by	Imperial Japanese Army Air Service
In use	1940s–present
Materials	concrete
Airfield information
Elevation	9 m (30 ft) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 09/27 1,314 m (4,311 ft)

History

Korean War

Following the capture of Pyongyang on 19 October 1950 the air base was put into service by the UN forces. The USAF designated the base K-24.^[1]

USAF units stationed at the base included:

• 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing operating F-51s from 22 November–5 December 1950^[1]
• Detachment F, 3rd Air Rescue Squadron^[2]
• 6002nd Tactical Support Wing^[1]

UN units stationed at the base included:

• 2 Squadron SAAF operating F-51s^[1]

UN forces abandoned the base on 5 December 1950 as part of the evacuation of Pyongyang during the UN retreat from North Korea.^[3] On 10 December 1950 B-29s bombed the airfield with high-explosive bombs.^[2]: 263

Post-war

In May 1952, the 272nd Construction Unit of the North Korean Air Force under the direction of Soviet advisors lengthened the runway.^[4] In June 2025 it satellite imagery revealed that the Mirim Parade Training Facility was through upgrade with large grassy lots paved and other areas repaved.^[5]

Facilities

The airfield has a single concrete runway 09/27 measuring 4310 x 69 feet (1314 x 21 m).^[6] It is sited along the Taedong River on the eastern edge of the capital city of Pyongyang. It has several taxiways, but the former airbase facilities are no longer used for air traffic. The site has since become a staging ground for large capital parades.^[7][8]

North of the former airport is a 200 metres (660 ft) runway with two helipads and a single structure.

A new facility consisting of a single runway was constructed in 2016 located at 39°0′35″N 125°50′50″E. Mirim Air Club operates ultralight aircraft from the airfield for tours around the city, which began in 2016.^[9]

Rehearsals for all military parades in North Korea usually take place 3–6 weeks prior to the actual parade at the Mirim Parade Training Facility, located on the eastern side of the base.^[10][11][12]

See also

• Pyongyang Air Base
• Pyongyang Sunan International Airport