North Korea resumed passenger railway services between Pyongyang and Beijing on March 13, reflecting the country's desire to strengthen relations with its ally China. This resumption follows more than six years of suspension.
North Korea had closed its borders at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020. While commercial train operations between the two countries resumed in September 2022, passenger air and rail links remained frozen. According to Chinese tourism groups, the new service between Pyongyang and Beijing will operate four times a week, while other routes serve daily services between Pyongyang and the Chinese city of Dandong.
Event Details
The air links are also set to increase, as Air China plans to resume weekly flights between Beijing International Airport and Sunan International Airport in Pyongyang starting March 30, as indicated by the airline's reservation systems. Meanwhile, North Korea's national airline, Air Koryo, has had limited services to China since August 2023, operating two flights weekly between Pyongyang and Beijing, and two flights as well between Pyongyang and the Chinese city of Shenyang.
According to Jung Jun-hee, a former spokesperson for South Korea's unification ministry, practical exchanges between China and North Korea have recently increased, with bilateral exchanges up by about 20% year-on-year.
Background & Context
Following the Ninth Congress of the Labor Party of Korea in February, North Korea outlined a new five-year development plan that requires Chinese support to boost trade. The expansion of transport services is expected to contribute to supporting trade to fulfill this agenda. Additionally, the resumption of air travel reflects North Korea's efforts to revive tourism, particularly in coastal areas like Wonsan and the Samji Lake area near Mount Baekdu.
In 2019, about 300,000 foreign tourists visited North Korea before the pandemic, with around 90% of them from China, generating an estimated revenue of between €90 million and €150 million.
Impact & Consequences
These moves indicate a clear desire from both countries to strengthen their ties in the face of global geopolitical tensions. The railway serves as an important channel for communication between the governments of Pyongyang and Beijing, facilitating the movement of trade officials and workers engaged in foreign currency-generating activities. The increased exchange of goods and people can be seen as a message to the international community that China and North Korea are solidifying their relations amid current global circumstances.
Furthermore, these actions lay the groundwork for a strategic shift that could affect how the North Korean government addresses its economic challenges in light of international sanctions imposed on it.
Regional Significance
The current events interact with Arab nations' efforts to enhance their strategic balance against global fluctuations. The strengthening of China's relationships with North Korea may signal new alliances and attempts to reduce American influence in the region. This presents an opportunity for Arab countries to diversify their markets amid the current strategic tension worldwide.
Continuous monitoring of this development is of great importance, as the change in North Korean-Chinese relations reflects new dynamics in international politics that may allow Arab nations to reassess their strategies.