Russia-North Korea Relations Strengthen, Moscow-Pyongyang Flights to Begin Operation This Month

JAKARTA - North Korea and Russia will launch a direct flight route between their capitals, Pyongyang, and Moscow, later this month.

Nordwind Airlines, a Russian low-cost carrier, will begin direct flights connecting the two cities on July 27, according to a TASS report citing the Russian Ministry of Transportation.

This will mark the first time the North Korean and Russian capitals have been linked by direct air service, the news agency said.

As reported by ANTARA from Yonhap-OANA on Tuesday, July 15, the new air route follows the Russian aviation authority's recent approval of Nordwind's request last month to operate direct flights between Pyongyang and Moscow twice a week.

TASS news agency reported the flight time to be approximately eight hours.

Currently, North Korea and Russia only have direct flights between Pyongyang and Vladivostok.

As the two countries became key partners for bilateral exchanges and cooperation following the signing of a joint defense treaty in June 2024, they have increased collaboration in various areas, including transportation.

Last month, the two countries resumed direct train services between Pyongyang and Moscow, as well as between Pyongyang and Khabarovsk, after suspensions due to COVID-19.

Earlier in April, they also began building a road bridge connecting the two countries across the Tumen River.

While visiting the North Korean east coast city of Wonsan last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia plans to restore sea transport routes between the two countries.