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North Korea-China Train Service Resumes After 6-Year Halt, Reaches Beijing

A passenger train from Pyongyang arrived in Beijing, marking the resumption of cross-border rail service between North Korea and China after a six-year suspension. The service, halted in January 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is a significant step in reconnecting the isolated nation with its largest trading partner. Trains will operate four times a week between the two capitals, with a daily service running from the Chinese border city of Dandong to Pyongyang. The move is aimed at facilitating travel and boosting economic and cultural exchanges between the two allied countries.

Key Points: China-North Korea Passenger Trains Resume After 6 Years

  • First passenger train in 6 years
  • Route connects Beijing and Pyongyang
  • Services halted in 2020 for pandemic
  • China is North Korea's largest trade partner
  • Trains to run four times weekly
2 min read

Train linking North Korea to China reaches Beijing, for first time in 6 years

Passenger train service between China and North Korea has restarted after a six-year COVID hiatus, with the first train from Pyongyang arriving in Beijing.

"helping facilitate cross-border travel and boost economic, trade and cultural exchanges - Chinese railway operator"

Seoul /Beijing, March 13

A passenger train linking North Korea and China arrived in Beijing on Friday after the two nations resumed such train service for the first time in six years, as per reports of state media from China and South Korea.

The services will connect Beijing and Dandong, in China, with Pyongyang, helping facilitate cross-border travel and boost economic, trade and cultural exchanges between the two countries, the Chinese railway operator said, Xinhua reported.

A train, which departed Pyongyang yesterday, arrived at a railway station in Beijing at 8:40 am (local time) today, Yonhap reported.

Another passenger train from Beijing to Pyongyang that departed yesterday is scheduled to arrive in Pyongyang at 6:07 pm today.

China is North Korea's largest trading partner.

Train services between the two countries were stopped since operations were suspended in January 2020 following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

China State Railway Group Co, Ltd. announced Tuesday that international passenger trains connecting China and North Korea would begin operating in both directions on Thursday, as per Chinese State media Xinhua

Trains between Beijing and Pyongyang will operate four times a week, while the service between the Chinese border city of Dandong and the North Korean capital will run daily, China Railway said in a notice late Tuesday.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
Good to see some normalcy returning post-pandemic, even in isolated places like North Korea. Hope the cultural exchanges mentioned are genuine and help the people there. The world needs more bridges, not walls. 🙏
A
Aman W
China is North Korea's largest trading partner... says it all. This train service is more about economic control and securing a buffer state than "cultural exchange." Strategic move by Beijing, as always.
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Sarah B
Reading this from an Indian perspective, it's a stark contrast. We open our borders for tourism and trade with many, believing in 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family). This seems like a very controlled, bilateral opening with a specific agenda.
K
Karthik V
Four times a week from Beijing and daily from Dandong! That's quite frequent. Makes you appreciate our own Indian Railways network even more - the lifeline of our nation, connecting far more people and places every single day. 🚂
V
Varun X
While the resumption of service is a positive step, one hopes it leads to better information flow and perhaps a slight easing of the harsh conditions for ordinary North Koreans. China has a responsibility here, being the main window to the world for them.

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