First train to Pyongyang from Beijing in six years

The first passenger train service between Beijing and Pyongyang is set to leave China's capital on Thursday, ending a six-year gap, as China moves to shore up cross-border infrastructure and ⁠rebuild ties with its neighbour. Train K27 will arrive in the North Korean capital at 6:07 p.m. on Friday, after a journey of 24 hours and 41 minutes skirting north of the Bohai Sea with a stopover in the border city of Dandong.



China and North Korea are "friendly neighbours" and a cross-border passenger train service facilitates people-to-people exchanges.



China also backs stronger communication between both sides to ease such exchanges.



The service was suspended when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in 2020.



North Korea is largely closed to foreign tourism, with few exceptions, largely for Russian tour groups under restricted arrangements, say travel agencies organising trips to the country.