Russia’s transport ministry announced that Nordwind Airlines will launch the first direct Pyongyang-Moscow flight route on July 27. Russian budget airline Nordwind Airlines will operate the new route. Officials confirmed the service will run twice weekly, with a flight time of about eight hours. The approval came after Nordwind requested permission to operate the Pyongyang-Moscow flight route last month.
Until now, air connections between the two countries were limited to Pyongyang and Vladivostok. The new Pyongyang-Moscow flight route adds a crucial transportation channel as bilateral ties grow stronger.
In June last year, North Korea and Russia signed a mutual defense treaty. Since then, the two nations have rapidly expanded cooperation across multiple sectors, including transportation and infrastructure.
In addition to the upcoming air route, direct rail services have resumed. Trains now run between Pyongyang and Moscow, and also between Pyongyang and Khabarovsk. These routes had been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic but were restored last month.
Furthermore, North Korea and Russia have initiated construction of a new road bridge. The bridge spans the Tumen River and aims to improve overland connectivity between the two countries.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recently visited Wonsan, a coastal city in eastern North Korea. During the visit, Lavrov announced plans to restore maritime transport between Russia and North Korea.
This series of transportation projects demonstrates both nations’ commitment to deeper integration. It also highlights the strategic value they place on physical connectivity amid changing geopolitical conditions.
The Pyongyang-Moscow flight route will likely strengthen people-to-people exchanges, business opportunities, and political cooperation. Analysts expect this to be the first of several upcoming initiatives aimed at tightening Russia-North Korea relations.
As preparations finalize, observers view the new air link as a symbol of the growing alliance. Both countries continue to develop alternative routes for cooperation, signaling long-term intentions for closer partnership.
