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Rail link between China and North Korea resumes after pandemic pause
Passenger trains connecting China and North Korea will restart operations on Thursday, marking the revival of a key transport route suspended for six years due to COVID-19 restrictions, China's rail operator announced.
Service details and frequency
The Beijing-Pyongyang route will operate four times weekly, while trains between the Chinese border city of Dandong and Pyongyang will run daily, according to a statement released by China Railway on Tuesday.
The operator described the rail service as a "vital connection fostering friendship" between the two nations.
Travel restrictions and ticket availability
While China has fully reopened its borders post-pandemic, North Korea has taken a gradual approach, permitting only a limited number of tourists since 2024.
China Railway noted that international travelers may board designated carriages on the Beijing-Pyongyang service. However, a travel agent told the BBC that tickets remain unavailable to business travelers or general tourists, with sales restricted to individuals holding valid visas.
Current visa holders include Chinese nationals working or studying in North Korea, as well as North Koreans traveling abroad for work, education, or family visits, according to AFP.
Tickets for the inaugural train departing Thursday have already sold out, Reuters reported, citing a Beijing ticketing office. Early buyers included entrepreneurs, government officials, and journalists.
Diplomatic and economic significance
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun emphasized on Tuesday that regular passenger rail services hold "great importance" for promoting people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
Earlier this week, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping, expressing confidence that bilateral cooperation would deepen "on their shared path to advance the socialist cause." The message responded to Xi's recent congratulatory note following Kim's reappointment as party leader.
Tourism and economic outlook
Prior to the pandemic, Chinese tourists constituted a significant portion of North Korea's foreign visitors. Since reopening in 2024, North Korea has launched tourism initiatives, including a seaside resort, though some projects have faced delays or suspensions.
