The first passenger train linking China and North Korea arrived in Pyongyang yesterday (12 Mar) after a six-year suspension, aiming to stimulate the economy and bilateral relations.
According to Xinhua News Agency, at 18:07 local North Korean time yesterday (12 Mar), the first passenger train in several years between China and North Korea traveled from Dandong city in Liaoning Province to the central railway station in Pyongyang, North Korea. This marks the official resumption of train services between the two countries after a six-year halt due to North Korea's strict border closures since early 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The reopening of this train route follows the schedule announced by China Railway Group on Tuesday (10 Mar). Wang Yajun, Chinese Ambassador to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), along with a delegation of diplomats and officials from North Korea's Ministry of Railways, warmly welcomed the arriving passengers at the station platform.
In this context, Mr. Wang stated that the reopening of the train route, suspended since 2020, is a "significant event in bilateral relations and a development eagerly awaited by the people of both countries."
The resumption will facilitate cross-border travel and strengthen economic, trade, and cultural exchanges between the two countries. The Beijing-Pyongyang route will operate four days a week—Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday—while the Dandong-Pyongyang route will run daily.
Source: CCTV/Xinhua