North Korea will offer helicopter sightseeing tours of its capital, Pyongyang, starting from this month, tourist agencies specialising in trips to the isolated country told Reuters on Thursday.

North Korea does not publish tourist numbers but an estimated 6,000 Westerners visit the country each year, according to tour companies. The vast majority of tourists are from neighbouring China.

"We'll swoop around the 105-story Ryugyong Hotel, do a low fly-by of the Taedong River past the Juche tower, and get a great glimpse of May Day stadium - the world's largest stadium, "Rowan Beard of China-based Young Pioneer Tours, which was offered the tours by state airline Air Koryo, told Reuters.

Tourists will be able to strap themselves into an ageing Mil Mi-17 - a Soviet-era military transport helicopter known for its small, porthole-like windows. Western travel firms are offering the flight as an optional extra, costing around 180 euros (S$275), on trips to North Korea.

Tourists will be allowed to take photographs during the flights which will last 30 to 40 minutes, he said.

Air Koryo is also offering flights over the capital in an antique Antonov 24 - a 1950s Soviet propeller passenger plane.

bbabo.Net