After more than 75 years without a direct connection, a flight has finally linked the capitals of Russia and North Korea. This historic event marks a significant shift in relations between the two nations, signaling a deepening of ties in a time of global uncertainty.
The inaugural flight, operated by Russian airline Nordwind using a Boeing 777-200ER, touched down in Pyongyang on Monday morning. The journey, covering over 6,400 kilometers, took approximately eight hours. While the flight carried Russian officials, media reports suggest the majority of passengers were North Korean citizens returning home. One passenger, speaking to the Ruptly video agency, expressed hope that the strengthened relationship with Russia would boost tourism in North Korea.
Previously, the only direct air route between Russia and North Korea connected Pyongyang with Vladivostok. This new direct link between Moscow and Pyongyang is a testament to the growing cooperation between the two countries. Nordwind plans to offer one round-trip flight per month, with tickets for the inaugural trip starting at around $570.
Russian Natural Resources and Environment Minister Aleksandr Kozlov, who co-chairs a bilateral intergovernmental commission on cooperation with North Korea, hailed the flight as a significant milestone in modern relations between the two nations. He was greeted at Pyongyang International Airport by his North Korean counterpart, Foreign Economic Affairs Minister Yun Jong-ho, who echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the new air service as a step towards the prosperity of both peoples.
This development comes after Moscow and Pyongyang signed a comprehensive bilateral cooperation agreement last year, outlining plans to deepen their relationship. The agreement included provisions for mutual defense, laying the groundwork for North Korean forces to assist Russian troops in a specific region of Russia. The establishment of this direct flight line underlines the practical and symbolic importance of this strengthened partnership, marking a new chapter in the complex relationship between Russia and North Korea.
