New Direct Air Route Connects Moscow and Pyongyang Amid Deepening Russia-North Korea Ties
New Direct Air Route Connects Moscow and Pyongyang Amid Deepening Russia-North Korea Ties
A significant new direct commercial air service has commenced between Moscow and Pyongyang, further cementing the burgeoning relationship between Russia and North Korea. The inaugural flight, operated by Russian carrier Nordwind, recently departed from Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport carrying over 400 passengers.
Russia’s Transport Ministry has indicated that this new route will initially operate with one flight per month, aiming to meet demand as both nations pursue closer ties. This development follows Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s recent visit to North Korea, where he met with leader Kim Jong Un and toured the new Wonsan-Kalma beach resort. Lavrov has pledged to encourage Russian tourism to the resort, which is central to Kim’s strategy for boosting North Korea’s economy through tourism.
This new air link underscores the deepening cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, which has seen a notable expansion in military and other sectors in recent years. North Korea has been gradually easing its pandemic-era border restrictions, though a full resumption of international tourism has yet to be announced. Regular flights between Vladivostok and Pyongyang had already resumed in 2023 after a hiatus.
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