Passenger train services between China and North Korea are set to resume this week, six years after the Covid-19 pandemic forced a suspension of travel. Train journeys were halted in 2020 when strict border closures were introduced to curb the virus.
Initial services target workers and students
Travel operators in Beijing and Dandong said Chinese citizens working or studying in North Korea can now purchase tickets, with the first service departing on Thursday. North Koreans studying, working, or visiting family abroad are also eligible to book. Tourists, however, remain excluded for the time being.
Rowan Beard, tours manager at Young Pioneer Tours, welcomed the resumption, noting it will provide an alternative to flights and may eventually serve tourists once North Korea reopens more broadly.
Official responses and monitoring
China’s foreign ministry did not confirm the resumption when asked, while South Korea’s unification ministry said it understands the service will restart on March 12 and will closely monitor developments.
Geopolitical context
China remains North Korea’s largest backer and a vital economic lifeline, though Pyongyang has increasingly engaged with Russia since the Ukraine war began. North Korea has signalled cautiously about further openings, even as some international events, such as Pyongyang’s planned marathon, have been unexpectedly cancelled.
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