First Direct Moscow–Pyongyang Flight Since Soviet Era Lands in North Korea, Signaling Closer Ties

 In a historic development underscoring deepening bilateral relations, the first direct commercial flight between Moscow and Pyongyang since the dissolution of the Soviet Union successfully landed in North Korea on Monday morning.

Until now, the only direct air link between the two nations connected Pyongyang with Vladivostok, operated exclusively by North Korea’s state airline, Air Koryo. The resumption of direct flights between the two capitals—discontinued for more than 75 years—marks a significant milestone in diplomatic and strategic engagement between Moscow and Pyongyang.

The new route, operated by Russian carrier Nordwind Airlines, received regulatory clearance earlier this month. It is scheduled to offer one round-trip flight per month. The inaugural service, utilizing a Boeing 777-200ER, carried both Russian government officials and civilian passengers.

“This flight marks a milestone in the modern relationship between our nations,” stated Russian Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Aleksandr Kozlov, who co-chairs the Russia–North Korea Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation. Kozlov was welcomed at Pyongyang International Airport by North Korean Foreign Economic Affairs Minister Yun Jong-ho, his counterpart on the commission. Yun described the new air link as “a step toward the prosperity of the peoples of our two nations.”

According to media reports, most passengers on the maiden flight were North Korean nationals returning home. One traveler, speaking to Ruptly news agency, expressed hope that improved ties with Russia would help revitalize tourism in North Korea.

The flight, which covers over 6,400 kilometers and lasts approximately eight hours, launched with ticket prices starting at around $570.

This diplomatic and logistical breakthrough follows the signing of a comprehensive cooperation treaty between Moscow and Pyongyang last year. The agreement outlined multifaceted collaboration across economic, technological, and security domains. Notably, it included mutual defense clauses, creating a legal basis for the deployment of North Korean forces to assist Russian troops during a Ukrainian incursion in Russia’s Kursk region.

As geopolitical alliances shift and regional tensions continue, the reestablishment of this air corridor is seen by analysts as a symbol of expanding strategic alignment between the two historically allied nations.