Pyongyang-Beijing Train Service Resumes Amid Eased Border Restrictions

Passenger train services between Pyongyang and Beijing are set to resume, ending a six-year suspension due to COVID-19. The service will operate four times a week with initial seating limited to diplomats. North Korea remains closed to most foreign tourists, cancelling events like the Pyongyang Marathon.

The long-awaited resumption of train services between Pyongyang and Beijing marks a significant step in reconnecting these two capitals after a prolonged hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The move restores a critical transport artery between North Korea and its principal economic partner, China, after stringent border controls initiated in early 2020.

According to reports from China's state railway, the Pyongyang-Beijing service will operate round-trips four times a week starting March 12. Initially, only two carriages will be available for passengers, primarily diplomats, and those on official business, with the possibility of ticket sales to the general public if seats are available, as confirmed by a railway official to Yonhap News Agency.

Despite the resumption of train services, North Korea maintains its stance on restricting foreign tourism, allowing limited exemptions largely for Russian groups. The cancellation of the Pyongyang Marathon, a rare event open to international participants, signals continued caution, as noted by tour organizers.