Russia and North Korea will restart a direct passenger train service between their capitals for the first time since 2020. The Moscow–Pyongyang route returns on 17 June, Russian Railways announced on its Telegram channel. The line had closed in February 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Trains will now run twice a month in each direction, taking eight days to complete the journey. The revival reflects growing Russia–North Korea cooperation across multiple sectors.
Officials in Moscow say the service is the longest direct rail route in the world, at more than 10,000 kilometres. A train will leave Pyongyang on the 3rd and 17th of each month. The return service will depart Moscow on the 12th and 26th. It will stop in key Russian cities including Khasan, Khabarovsk, Novosibirsk and Kostroma. Travel demand remains unclear, but the symbolism carries weight.
This move comes amid a broader push for deeper economic and military ties between the two countries. Last June, they signed a mutual defence pact that strengthened their strategic alignment. Since then, Russia–North Korea cooperationhas expanded into infrastructure and trade. In late 2023, both countries reopened the short rail link between Khasan and Tumen River Station. That small cross-border service helped set the stage for broader reopening.
In addition to the Moscow service, a second route between Pyongyang and Khabarovsk will launch on 19 June. That train will run once a month and further widen access between the two countries. It highlights how Russia–North Korea cooperation is shifting from rhetoric to implementation. Both governments are also working on a new bridge project across the Tumen River. That road connection is expected to open by the end of 2026.
The decision to restart these routes comes as both nations face growing isolation from the West. Russia’s war in Ukraine and North Korea’s weapons testing have deepened their pariah status. In response, they are turning to each other for trade, diplomacy and infrastructure. The new train routes offer a tangible sign of this shift. With each crossing, Russia–North Korea cooperation takes another step forward.
