China and North Korea to Restart Passenger Train Services After Six-Year Suspension

Passenger train services between China and North Korea are set to resume this week, marking the end of a six-year suspension that began when the countries closed their borders during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rail travel between the two neighbours was halted in 2020 as part of strict measures aimed at preventing the spread of the virus. While China has since reopened its borders, North Korea has taken a more cautious approach to restoring international transport links.
Travel agents at official ticketing offices in Beijing and the border city of Dandong said on Tuesday that Chinese citizens working or studying in North Korea can now purchase train tickets. The first passenger service is expected to depart on Thursday.
According to the agents, North Korean citizens living abroad for work, study or family visits are also eligible to buy tickets. However, international tourists are not yet permitted to use the route.
Rowan Beard, a tours manager at Young Pioneer Tours, said the resumption of the rail link was a positive step. Speaking to Agence France-Presse, he noted that while the service is not initially open to tourists, it could eventually provide an alternative travel option once tourism to North Korea resumes.
Officials in China have not formally confirmed the reopening. When asked about the reports, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun declined to comment during a regular press briefing.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s unification ministry said it understands that the international rail route linking Pyongyang and Beijing will resume operations on March 12, adding that authorities are closely monitoring developments.
China has long been North Korea’s most important economic and political ally, providing crucial support to the country’s struggling economy. In recent years, however, Pyongyang has also strengthened ties with Russia following the outbreak of the Ukraine war.
Despite the planned reopening of the rail service, North Korea has shown mixed signals about further international engagement. On Monday, travel company Koryo Tours announced that an international marathon scheduled to take place in Pyongyang next month had been cancelled without explanation.
The event is considered the largest international sporting competition held in the North Korean capital and has previously offered foreign visitors a rare opportunity to travel through the tightly controlled city.