Key Facts
• Direct train service between Pyongyang and Moscow resumed after a 5-year suspension.
• The train departed from Pyongyang on June 13, 2025, heading to Moscow.
• Service was halted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The route spans over 10,000 km and takes 8 days one way.
• 20 passengers were onboard the first resumed journey.
• Russian Railways initially announced a June 17 restart but advanced the date to June 13.
• The reason for the earlier departure remains undisclosed.
• The North Korean Russian Embassy called the resumption a “key step” in strengthening ties.
• Expectations include increased tourism and expanded exchanges between the two nations.
• Russia and North Korea have deepened relations through military and economic cooperation, including during the Ukraine conflict.
Summary
The direct train service connecting Pyongyang, North Korea, and Moscow, Russia, has resumed after a five-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The train departed on June 13, 2025, carrying 20 passengers on a journey spanning over 10,000 km and lasting 8 days one way. Initially scheduled to restart on June 17, the departure was moved up, though the reason remains unclear. The North Korean Russian Embassy highlighted the resumption as a significant step toward strengthening bilateral relations, with hopes for increased tourism and broader exchanges. This development reflects the growing cooperation between Russia and North Korea in military and economic sectors, particularly amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
