Russia and North Korea have reinstated regular passenger rail service between their countries, marking the end of a four-year suspension that began with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

The state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported the development, citing a regional customs official. The first train departed on December 16 from Khasan, a town in Russia’s Far Eastern Primorsky region, and crossed into Tumangang, North Korea.

The journey, which lasts just 17 minutes, connects the two towns separated by the Tumen River via the Korea-Russia Friendship Bridge. 

The train will operate three days a week—on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays—as part of ongoing efforts to boost the connectivity between the neighboring nations. 

According to a representative of Russia’s Far Eastern Railway, two Russian citizens were aboard the first train, which departed from Khasan station at 8:30 a.m. Moscow time. 

The service had previously operated on a trial basis earlier this year, during which 1,200 people traveled between the two nations.

Both countries see the restored connection as a chance to boost tourism. The Russian consulate in Chongjin reported in October that more than 1,000 Russian tourists had visited North Korea in 2024, reflecting growing interest in cross-border travel.

In a related development, passenger rail service between Russia and China also resumed on December 15 after a four-year hiatus. 

This daily route links Suifenhe in China with Grodekovo in Russia, with trains departing Suifenhe at 9:52 a.m. and Grodekovo at 3:43 p.m., according to the Chinese railway operator. 

Chinese state media highlighted the potential for these links to improve regional trade and tourism. Nearly 1 million Russian tourists visited China in 2023, while over 477,000 Chinese travelers went to Russia.

In addition to rail services, passenger bus routes between Heihe in China and Kanikurgan in Russia were reinstated on December 10, with four buses operating daily in each direction. 

The restoration of these transport links is part of broader efforts by Russia, North Korea, and China to strengthen regional cooperation. The efforts seek to promote cross-border tourism, facilitate trade, and unlock economic opportunities in border regions. 

Russia & North Korea Forge Deeper Military Ties

Russia and North Korea have significantly strengthened their alliance in recent years, evolving from a transactional partnership into a long-term strategic relationship. 

The turning point came with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which accelerated cooperation between the two nations. By October 2024, North Korea reportedly deployed troops to assist Russian forces, marking a new chapter in their alliance.

Initially, their relationship revolved around a straightforward exchange: North Korea supplied large quantities of 122-mm and 152-mm artillery to support Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, receiving in return food aid, financial assistance, and potentially advanced Russian military technology. 

While this arrangement addressed North Korea’s immediate needs—particularly its economic struggles exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic—it also served Pyongyang’s broader military ambitions.

Analysts had initially described the relationship as a “marriage of convenience,” but that characterization quickly became outdated as the partnership deepened. 

The signing of a defense pact on December 5 further formalized their cooperation, and North Korean troops are now actively engaged in combat in Ukraine’s Kursk region.

According to South Korean officials, these soldiers were reportedly provided with Russian uniforms and identification and are being trained to operate drones and other military equipment. 

A portion of these troops are said to belong to the XI Corps, also referred to as the “Storm Corps.” This special forces unit is trained in covert operations, including infiltration, sabotage of critical infrastructure, and targeted assassinations. 

The Ukrainian military has already released footage showing strikes on North Korean troops, with reports claiming that 50 North Korean soldiers were killed over three days in the Kursk area. 

“The soldiers of the 8th Special Operations Regiment named after Prince Iziaslav Mstyslavych organized a ‘warm welcome’ for North Korean troops in Russia’s Kursk Oblast. Over the course of three days, Special Forces personnel killed 50 enemy soldiers and wounded 47 more,” the Ukrainian military said. 

South Korean intelligence previously disclosed that Russia is covering all costs associated with the deployment, paying approximately $2,000 per soldier per month. However, most of this money reportedly goes to the North Korean state, with individual soldiers seeing only a small portion of the funds.

Such financial arrangements are not unprecedented. The United States covered similar costs for allied forces during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and paid for the deployment of South Korean troops during the Vietnam War.

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