North Korean capital Pyongyang welcomes Air China flight

Mohan Sinha
01 Apr 2026, 10:04 GMT+10

Six years after China suspended all air traffic to North Korea, China Air, the country’s flag carrier, resumed direct flights between Beijing and Pyongyang on March 30
This followed the restoration of passenger train services between the capitals
According to Chinese state media, the Chinese ambassador to North Korea, Wang Yajun, and other diplomats welcomed the Air China flight

BEIJING, China: Six years after China suspended all air traffic to North Korea, China Air, the country's flag carrier, resumed direct flights between Beijing and Pyongyang on March 30.

This followed the restoration of passenger train services between the capitals.

According to Chinese state media, the Chinese ambassador to North Korea, Wang Yajun, and other diplomats welcomed the Air China flight.

Passenger train services between China and North Korea restarted on March 12.

Flights and trains had been stopped since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. North Korea's airline, Air Koryo, started flights between the two capitals again in 2023.

During the pandemic, North Korea banned all foreign tourists, but it has slowly begun to relax these rules. In 2024, a group of Russian tourists was allowed to enter the country.

Before the ban, about 90 percent of visitors to North Korea were from China, so the delay in resuming Chinese tours surprised many.

China is North Korea's biggest trading partner and an important ally, though it has often criticised North Korea for testing missiles that could reach South Korea and the United States.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Beijing in September to attend a large military parade, the first time in many years that a North Korean leader had attended such an event in China.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Kolkata Sun.

More Information

International

Section

North Korean capital Pyongyang welcomes Air China flight

BEIJING, China: Six years after China suspended all air traffic to North Korea, China Air, the country's flag carrier, resumed direct...

‘No Kings’ rallies held across US with Springsteen show in Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minnesota: Protesting against the war in Iran and President Donald Trump's actions in Iran, people held No Kings rallies...

Tiger Woods crashes car at high speed, held on DUI charge

JUPITER ISLAND, Florida: Golfing legend Tiger Woods was arrested for driving under the influence on March 27 after the Land Rover he...

Pro-Iranian group claim to have hacked FBI Director’s email account

WASHINGTON, D.C.: A hacking group that supports Iran said on March 27 that it broke into an account linked to FBI Director Kash Patel....

Artemis II astronauts set for first moon trip in 54 years on April 1

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida: Fifty-four years after astronauts from Apollo 17 walked on the lunar surface, a new team arrived at the launch...

Portugal's Catholic Church to compensate sexual abuse victims

LISBON, Portugal: Portugal's Catholic Church said on March 26 that 57 victims of sexual abuse by the clergy would receive a combined...

India

Section