Passenger train services between China and North Korea are scheduled to resume this week following a six-year suspension caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, China Railway announced on Tuesday. The restart, effective from Thursday, represents a key development in cross-border connectivity between the two neighboring states.
Train journeys were halted in early 2020 as both countries enforced strict border closures to contain the virus. While China has since fully reopened its borders, North Korea has adopted a more measured approach, having only resumed direct flights and rail links with Russia last year. According to the official statement, regular services will run between Beijing and Pyongyang every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Border procedures will be handled at the Dandong crossing in China and Sinuiju in North Korea.
Tickets are currently available for offline purchase in multiple Chinese cities, but initial eligibility is restricted to Chinese nationals working or studying in North Korea, and North Koreans engaged in work, education, or family visits abroad. Tourists are not yet permitted to travel. Travel agencies in Beijing and Dandong confirmed the resumption, with ticket sales starting on Wednesday in Dandong. Rowan Beard of Young Pioneer Tours, a foreign firm specializing in North Korean travel, indicated that his company can facilitate bookings from Thursday, noting the service may later serve as an alternative to air travel for tourists once tourism reopens.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry stated it expects the services to commence as planned and will closely monitor developments. China’s foreign ministry highlighted the importance of the trains in promoting personnel exchanges and bilateral cooperation. Despite occasional diplomatic friction over North Korea’s nuclear program, China maintains its role as Pyongyang’s primary economic supporter, though North Korea has strengthened ties with Russia during the Ukraine conflict.
However, North Korea’s approach to opening remains inconsistent. On Monday, officials canceled an international marathon in Pyongyang scheduled for next month—a major sporting event that typically draws foreign visitors—citing no explanation, a decision described as unexpected and indicative of lingering restrictions.
The resumption of passenger rail services signals a gradual return to pre-pandemic normalcy in Sino-North Korean relations. It may facilitate economic and cultural exchanges while testing the framework for broader travel. Regional observers will watch how North Korea manages this step, as it could influence future opportunities for tourism and trade on the Korean Peninsula.
