PYONGYANG, July 25 – North Korea has officially updated its passenger rail service timetable between Pyongyang and Beijing, signaling the resumption of cross-border train operations after more than four years of suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the DPR Korea Tour website, trains will now depart from Pyongyang at 10:25 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, traveling through the Chinese border city of Dandong before arriving in Beijing. In the reverse direction, trains from Beijing will leave at 5:27 p.m. on the same days, also via Dandong.

Passenger rail services on this route had been suspended since January 2020, as North Korea closed its borders in response to the global pandemic. However, recent updates suggest that Pyongyang and Beijing have reached an agreement to restart regular passenger train services between their capital cities.

In a related development, the DPR Korea Tour site also introduced a new air route between Pyongyang and Shanghai, offering flights twice a week. Though details on the airline and specific flight schedules remain limited, the inclusion of this new route marks a significant step in North Korea's gradual re-engagement with the international community.

Analysts interpret these moves as a sign of warming relations between North Korea and China, following recent diplomatic tensions caused by North Korea’s reported arms cooperation with Russia. The resumption of transport links is widely seen as a practical measure to rebuild economic and political ties with Beijing, its main ally and trading partner.

As of now, Chinese authorities have not released an official statement confirming the agreement, but travel and tourism operators on both sides are beginning to reflect the changes in their booking systems.

These transport reopenings also align with broader indications that North Korea is easing its border restrictions, potentially laying the groundwork for more robust trade and diplomatic engagement in the region.