Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Russia has announced it will resume direct passenger train service between Moscow and North Korea capital, Pyongyang, this month. The route is set to reopen on June 17.
The service, which connects the two capitals, will resume operations next week under an agreement between Russian Railways and North Korean rail authorities.
The journey between Moscow and Pyongyang will span 10,000 kilometers (about 6,200 miles) and take approximately eight days, making it the longest passenger train journey in the world.
According to Reuters, Russian Railways, a state-owned monopoly, said it has reached a deal with North Korea’s Ministry of Railways to run the route twice a month.
Trains from Pyongyang to Moscow will depart on the 3rd and 17th of each month, while return services from Moscow to Pyongyang will leave on the 12th and 26th.
The cross-border passenger service will be operated by North Korea’s state railway company. Once the North Korean train cars arrive in Moscow, they will be attached to Russia’s regular domestic service to Vladivostok.
In addition to the Moscow-Pyongyang route, another train service is set to begin on June 19. The service will be opened once in a month connecting Pyongyang to Khabarovsk, a city in Russia’s Far East near the North Korean border.
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Both countries have previously operated passenger train services. However, passenger rail traffic between Russia and North Korea was suspended in February 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to passenger train, Russia and North Korea maintain a freight rail network that continues to operate between their borders.
Under President Vladimir Putin, Russia and North Korea have been strengthening ties, including in the military sphere. Last year, Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement.
Recently, in May, the two countries held a joint ceremony in their respective border towns, Rason in North Korea and Khasan in Russia to launch the construction of a new cross-border road bridge.
(Raidi/Agung)
