March 13, 2026 | 06:03 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The international train service connecting China and North Korea resumed operations on Thursday, March 12, 2026. This marks a significant new phase after the vital transportation route was closed for six years due to Covid-19 restrictions. Travel operators confirmed that tickets have been available for purchase since last Tuesday for the inaugural departure on Thursday.
This move follows a six-year suspension of the service. While China has long since opened its borders, North Korea has been slower to restore international access, although it previously resumed direct flights and train services with Russia last year.
Travel agents in Beijing and the border city of Dandong stated that tickets are currently prioritized for Chinese nationals working or studying in North Korea, as well as North Korean citizens wishing to visit family abroad. However, general tourists do not yet qualify to purchase these tickets.
"It’s great to see the international train service resuming," said Rowan Beard, Tour Manager at Young Pioneer Tours, as quoted by The Guardian. According to him, although the route is not initially aimed at tourists, it will serve as a crucial travel alternative to flights once North Korean tourism fully recovers.
China Railway officially announced the operational schedule for the Beijing-Pyongyang route, which will run four times a week. Meanwhile, the service from the border city of Dandong to the North Korean capital will operate daily. Chinese railway authorities referred to the service as a moving link that strengthens the friendship between China and North Korea.
Tickets for the inaugural journey on Thursday have already sold out. The majority of buyers are business people, government officials, and journalists with valid visas. As reported by the BBC, Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that maintaining this regular service is crucial for facilitating human exchanges.
Although North Korea has begun launching new projects, such as seaside resorts, to attract visitors, the full reopening of the tourism sector is being managed with extreme caution. With the resumption of this train service, it is hoped that the flow of people and economic exchange between the two socialist countries can fully recover to pre-pandemic levels.
IMANDA ZAHWA
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