Russia opens new direct flights to North Korea – DW – 07/27/2025
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Monthly flights from Moscow to Pyongyang were set to begin on Sunday evening in a further sign of the deepening ties between Russia and North Korea. Meanwhile, Russia's Navy Day parade was canceled on "security grounds."

Monthly flights from Moscow to Pyongyang were set to begin on Sunday evening in a further sign of the deepening ties between Russia and North Korea.

The first direct passenger flight from Moscow to Pyongyang since the mid-1990s was set depart on Sunday evening.

The eight-hour, 6,500-kilometer (4,040-mile) flight, operated by private Russian carrier Nordwind Airlines, was due to take off from Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport at 19:00 local time (18:00 CEST).

The 440 places on the Boeing 777-200ER aircraft quickly sold out, Russian state media claimed, with tickets costing 44,700 rubles ($563, €479). However, the AFP news agency reported that nine tickets were still available on the airline’s official website on Sunday morning.