Russia has resumed direct passenger flights from Moscow to North Korea's Pyongyang capital, marking the first time the two countries have had a direct flight between the two capitals since the mid 1990s.
This information was given in the context of the relationship between the two countries increasingly getting closer.
The first flight, using a Boeing 777-200ER with a capacity of 440 passengers, departed from Sheremetyevo Airport at 7:00 p.m. on July 27. According to Russia's RIA news agency, the ticket price for this first flight was from 44,700 rubles (equivalent to 563 USD), and all tickets were quickly sold out. The flight has a flight time of about 8 hours.
Russia's civil aviation agency, Rosaviatsia, has licensed Nordwind to operate a route between Moscow and Pyongyang at a frequency of twice a week. However, the Russian Transport Ministry said that flights will be conducted once a month in the immediate future to facilitate the building of stable demand on this route.
Before the new route was restored, the only route between Russia and North Korea was operated by North Korean air Koryo, connecting Pyongyang with the city of Vladivostok in the Russian Far East region three times a week.
Last month, passenger train services between Moscow and Pyongyang were also resumed, with a journey lasting 10 days. The restoration of both railways and aviation between the two countries comes as North Korea shows its support for Russia in the Ukrainian conflict.
Mr. Kim Jong-un recently said that North Korea is ready to "unconditionally support" Russia's efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
