Russia and North Korea revived symbolic flights amid deepening military ties
November 1, 2025
In July 2025, Russia revived commercial flights with North Korea as the two countries drew closer. Since then, the flight connection has remained symbolic, while a potentially much more significant road bridge is being rapidly constructed between the countries.
Bringing North Korea in from the cold
The growth of flight connections between North Korea and Russia must be understood in the context of the war in Ukraine, North Korean military aid to Russia, and Russia’s isolation.
Vladimir Putin is being feted with wild adulation in North Korea and a parade in his honor pic.twitter.com/9dBU5hRdek
— max seddon (@maxseddon) June 19, 2024
In February 2022, Russia launched its ill-fated full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The invasion soon bogged down, and Russia was driven from large swaths of Ukraine it had initially occupied in the first weeks of the war.
While much has been said about Ukraine’s lack of weapons and need for international support, less has been said about Russia’s need for weapons, especially artillery.
Isolated by Western sanctions, Russia turned to North Korea. North Korea is uniquely placed to supply Russia’s war machine. Not only is it a comparatively rare operator of Russia’s 152 mm artillery shells, but it has also built up vast stockpiles over the years. Most countries, like India, Pakistan, Egypt, and others, use incompatible Western-standard 155 mm shells.
By May 2025, RUSI reported that North Korea had supplied around 5.8 million artillery rounds, accounting for approximately 40% of Russia’s ammunition. In addition, North Korea has supplied 12,000 soldiers, artillery guns, and much more.
North Korea will always back Russia to end root causes of Ukraine conflict — Kim in talks with Medvedev
— RT (@RT_com) October 11, 2025
After breathtaking Pyongyang military parade pic.twitter.com/L5SjOmIHmX
In return, Russia is supplying oil, food, military technology transfers, older fighter jets, and more. Another new source of revenue for North Korea is an attempt to entice Russian holidaymakers. Meanwhile, North Korea has expressed anger at Japan developing the GCAP/Tempest sixth-generation fighter jet with the UK.
Nordwind Airlines’ monthly flights to North Korea
In July 2025, AGN reported that Russia’s leisure airline, Norwind Airlines, was establishing its first regular flights to North Korea. Since then, a Nordwind Airbus A330 has continued to connect Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport with Pyongyang’s Sunan International Airport.
The flight revived a route that had been dormant for three decades. That said, the flight isn’t exactly frequent, with the flight only taking place once a month. FlightRadar24 notes that while the flight is limited to one round-trip per month, “its symbolism obviously reaches far beyond its schedule.”
Prior to the war, Nordwind focused on flights between Russia and popular beach destinations in Southern Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The route to Pyongyang is just one of the airline’s dramatic reworkings of its destinations as European airspace remains closed to Russian carriers.
As of the time of writing, the next Nordwind flight (N46107) will fly from Moscow to Pyongyang on 31st October. Holidaymakers will have two full days to explore North Korea before catching the return flight (N46108) on 2nd November.
The flight will return from Moscow on 30th November before flying back to Moscow on 2nd December.
Air Koryo’s flights to China and Russia’s Vladivostok
Apart from Nordwind, the only airline operating international flights to North Korea appears to be North Korea’s flag carrier, Air Koryo. Most of its flights are to China, with a few flights to Russia’s Vladivostok.
FlightRadar24 shows Pyongyang is connected by international flights to Shenyang (Flight JS155) in China and Vladivostok and Moscow in Russia. Air Koryo’s website also lists it flying to Beijing in China.
The flights (Flight JS271) to Russia’s Far East city of Vladivostok are operated by North Korea’s flag carrier, Air Koryo. According to its website, these flights from Pyongyang operate three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday), departing at 09:00 and returning at 14:00 the same day.
Flights from Pyongyang to Shenyang-Taoxian operate on Mondays (08:00), Wednesdays (12:00), and Saturdays (12:00) and return directly after. The flights (Flight JS151) to Beijing-Capital operate on Tuesdays (08:35) and Saturdays (08:35).
- Pyongyang’s international flights:
- Moscow-Sheremetyevo: Operated by Nordwind once a month
- Vladivostok: Operated by Air Koryo three times weekly
- Shengyang-Taoxian: Operated by Air Koryo three times weekly
- Beijing-Capital: Operated by Air Koryo three times weekly
Air Koryo’s website lists the costs of these flights. The flight from Vladivostok to Pyongyang costs $265. The two other international flights are priced in Chinese Yuan, with the flight to Beijing costing 1,760 CNY ($250) and the flight to Shenyang costing 1,180 CNY ($166).
According to Planespotters.net, Air Koryo operates a fleet of four aircraft made up of two Antonov An-148 regional jets and two Tupolev Tu-204 airliners. Seperately, Russia is seeking to put a russified version of the Tu-204/214 back into production with the first import-substituted example poised to be delivered to Red Wings.
A new land crossing between Russia and North Korea
The re-establishment of flights between Russia and North Korea is accompanied by a new bridge being built. The rail link has also been reopened. The two countries share a narrow common border located around 255 kilometers’ drive from Vladivostok International Airport.
NEW: @CSISKoreaChair's newest satellite imagery analysis displays significant progress in the construction of the Russia-North Korea Tumangang-Khasan road bridge.
— CSIS (@CSIS) October 28, 2025
What are the key findings? https://t.co/WyWwCvUTti pic.twitter.com/Vrhfaem8BT
In late October 2025. CSIS published satellite images showing the construction of the new Russia-North Korea Tumangang-Khasan road bridge. The bridge is being built next to the rail bridge already connecting the countries.
CSIS added that the bridge might be completed in the first quarter of 2026. It remains unclear if the bridge will be restricted to just trade between the countries or if Russian holidaymakers will soon be able to have a road option, perhaps with organised bus tours, to visit the hermit state.
🤦♂️New Rail Link Between Russia and North Korea has opened: a trip like this, you might not come back from
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) June 17, 2025
Today, the first train departed from Pyongyang to Moscow.
Now, the Russia-North Korea route is the longest railway journey in the world. The trip will take 9 days and cover… pic.twitter.com/kStbGPO1vo
While Nordwind may offer flights from Moscow, the main Russian gateway to North Korea remains Vladivostok, whether by land or air. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, flights from China remained the main gateway for international tourists.
Joint drive for more Russian tourists in North Korea
In July 2025, North Korean state TV showed Kim Jong-un opening up a new luxury seaside Wonsan-Kalma resort at the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone. A week-long trip from Russia to North Korea that includes three days at the resort costs $1,800.
Russian state TV is now running reports praising the wonders of tourism in North Korea
— Francis Scarr (@francis_scarr) February 13, 2024
Russian visitors interviewed in this item describe "amazing" skiing and "gorgeous" beaches pic.twitter.com/n0WQ4XsfSq
From around February 2024, Russian state TV (Russia 1) has run reports praising the wonders of tourism in North Korea. Russians interviewed in the programs have described it as “amazing” for skiing and having “gorgeous” beaches. High-ranking Russian officials have also encouraged Russians to holiday there.
In August 2025, the BBC reported on a Russian woman’s experience there. Anastasia Samsonova enjoyed the visit, while noting her group was accompanied by security guards. She described it as a “vacation without people” with the beaches and resorts being mostly empty.
🚨 BREAKING: North Korea opens a luxury resort — just for Russian tourists.
— Defence Index (@Defence_Index) June 26, 2025
Kim Jong Un, joined by his daughter, unveiled the massive Wonsan-Kalma resort. 🇷🇺 tourists are now arriving via direct trains, with 1,500 visiting in 2024 alone. pic.twitter.com/ldHN1EQfDP
Initially, the resort was billed as being open to international tourists, but so far, only Russians in tour groups organised by accredited travel agencies have been permitted to stay.
Custom Image: Wikimedia Commons
