In September 2015 I was flying HEL-PEK continuing the next day to Pyongyang with Air Koryo where the tour company had provided me with copies of the Air Koryo e-ticket and my DPRK tourist card which was to be collected in Beijing.
Checked in at the kiosk and used automatic bag drop without any problems. At the boarding gate the agent simply recorded details of my onward journey on a scrap of paper and allowed me to board.