China Resumes Direct Flights to North Korea: What This Means for Travel and Trade

China has officially resumed direct flights to North Korea's capital, Pyongyang, following the revival of passenger train services. This development comes after a long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw all travel to North Korea suspended. The return of Air China flights is significant for tourism, as Chinese travelers previously made up the majority of visitors to North Korea. With North Korea beginning to ease its travel restrictions, this move could reshape the dynamics of travel and trade between the two nations. Explore the implications of this renewed connection and what it means for future tourism in North Korea.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 30, 2026, 11:59 IST

Direct Flights Between Beijing and Pyongyang Restart

Beijing: The national airline of China has reinstated direct flights connecting Beijing with Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, following the recent revival of passenger train services between the two cities.

The inaugural Air China flight was greeted by Wang Yajun, the Chinese ambassador to North Korea, along with other diplomatic officials, as reported by state media.

Passenger train operations from China to North Korea resumed on March 12, marking a significant step in re-establishing travel links.

These flights and train services had been halted since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

In 2023, North Korea's own airline, Air Koryo, also restarted flights between the two capitals.

During the pandemic, North Korea prohibited all foreign tourists but has begun to relax these restrictions, with a Russian tour group entering the country in 2024.

Before the travel ban, Chinese tourists accounted for 90% of all visitors to North Korea, and the slow return of Chinese tour groups has raised eyebrows among analysts.

China remains North Korea's largest trading partner and a key ally, although Beijing has voiced concerns over North Korea's missile tests aimed at South Korea and the United States.

In a notable diplomatic gesture, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Beijing in September to attend a significant military parade, marking the first appearance of a North Korean leader at such an event in decades.