Passenger practice companies between China and North Korea will resume on Thursday (March 12, 2026), six years after their suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic, travel operators have advised AFP.
Train journeys between the 2 international locations had been halted in 2020 as they imposed strict border closures to forestall the coronavirus from spreading.
While China has since totally reopened its borders, North Korea has proceeded extra slowly, although direct flights and practice companies with Russia resumed final yr.
But travel agents for an official ticketing sales space in Beijing advised AFP on Tuesday (March 10, 2026) that anybody with a legitimate visa was now ready to purchase practice tickets to the diplomatically remoted nation.
This would come with Chinese folks working and finding out in North Korea, in addition to North Koreans working, finding out and visiting household overseas.
Another such ticketing sales space within the Chinese border metropolis of Dandong advised AFP that gross sales would resume on Wednesday (March 10, 2026) however vacationers weren’t but eligible to purchase tickets.
“It’s great to see the international train service resuming,” Rowan Beard, excursions supervisor at Young Pioneer Tours, advised AFP.
He confirmed his firm, one in every of a number of foreign-run corporations that concentrate on travel to North Korea, might additionally organise tickets from Thursday (March 10, 2026).
“While it isn’t initially intended for tourists, it will provide another travel option once tourism to North Korea eventually returns, serving as an alternative to flying,” Mr. Beard mentioned.
Simon Cockerell, basic supervisor of Koryo Tours, sounded a observe of warning.
“This has been announced before and it’s been untrue, but this time does seem a bit more legitimate,” he advised AFP.
If true, “this is a good step for sure”, he mentioned.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry mentioned in an announcement that “we understand that the Pyongyang-Beijing international train service is set to resume operations on March 12, and we will continue to closely monitor related developments”.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun didn’t verify the reviews when requested by reporters at a press briefing on Tuesday (March 10, 2026).
“Maintaining regular passenger train services is of great significance in facilitating people-to-people exchanges between the two sides,” he mentioned.
Despite durations of strained relations between China and North Korea over Pyongyang’s nuclear programme, the 2 neighbours have maintained shut ties.
China is traditionally North Korea’s largest backer and a vital lifeline for its moribund economic system, although Pyongyang has drawn nearer to Russia because the begin of the Ukraine warfare.
North Korea’s reclusive authorities have given blended indicators on whether or not additional opening is on the playing cards.
On Monday (March 9, 2026), Koryo Tours mentioned North Korea had cancelled a world marathon in its capital, Pyongyang, initially scheduled for early subsequent month, citing an official assertion with no clarification for the choice.
The cancellation was “unexpected”, the corporate mentioned, including it understood the choice had been “taken at a level above the organisers of the event itself”.
The marathon is the most important worldwide sporting occasion in North Korea, providing guests a uncommon likelihood to run via Pyongyang’s tightly managed streets.
