THE first train from North Korea to Beijing in nearly six years arrived on Friday morning after nearly a day’s journey, China’s railway authority said.
China is North Korea’s largest trading partner and a vital source of diplomatic, economic and political support for the isolated nuclear state.
Train journeys between the East Asian neighbours were halted in 2020 under strict border closures during the pandemic, but resumed on Thursday.
The K28 train from Pyongyang arrived in Beijing at 8.37am on Friday, after departing from Pyongyang more than 23 hours earlier.
The re-opening of the train route marks rare access for foreigners into North Korea, which bans tourism except for some Russian citizens under limited arrangements, according to tour agencies.
South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported that a train had been seen crossing the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge over the Yalu River on Thursday.
The river separates North Korea’s Sinuiju from northeastern China’s Dandong. — AFP
