Russia Launches Direct Flights to North Korea Amid Deepening Military Ties

Russia has officially launched direct commercial flights to North Korea, signaling closer ties between the two countries as Moscow continues its military offensive in Ukraine.

The first flight, operated by Russia’s Nordwind Airlines, departed from Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport at 4:25 p.m. GMT on Sunday, July 27, en route to Pyongyang. The journey is expected to take approximately eight hours.

Russia’s transport ministry confirmed that the new route will initially operate once a month. Tickets for the Moscow–Pyongyang flight are priced at 45,000 rubles, or around $570.

“This is a historic event, strengthening the ties between our nations,” said a Nordwind Airlines staff member overseeing the flight, who declined to provide his full name or the passenger count.

Deputy Transport Minister Vladimir Poteshkin underscored the significance of the launch, noting that it marks the first time in over 70 years of diplomatic relations that a direct air link has been established between the Russian and North Korean capitals.

According to Russian state media outlet TASS, the return flight from Pyongyang to Moscow is scheduled for Tuesday, July 29. The two countries recently resumed train services in June, following a suspension that began during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

The launch of direct air travel comes amid increasing military cooperation between the two nations. North Korea has reportedly supplied troops and weaponry to support Russia’s campaign in Ukraine.

In 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang, where the two nations signed a mutual defense agreement. Earlier this year, North Korea publicly confirmed that it had deployed a contingent of soldiers alongside Russian forces on the Ukrainian front lines.

The deepening partnership has raised international concern, with Western allies warning of growing military collaboration between Moscow and Pyongyang.