China-Korea Train Service Resumes After Six-Year Halt
China has resumed cross-border rail operations with its neighbor after halting them for nearly seven years. China's state news agency Xinhua announced that Train K27 departed Dandong at 18:50 Beijing time on March 13, marking the first passenger service between Pyongyang and a Chinese city since early February of this year following pandemic-era suspensions in late January or mid-February last month (depending on which source is used). The train arrived safely back home after nearly six years without such direct rail links.
Key Points
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1China-Korea cross-border rail services resumed after being halted for over five years due to pandemic restrictions.
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2The inaugural journey departed from Dandong in China heading toward Pyongyang with an expected travel time of approximately 24 hours.
Developments
China and North Korea have resumed passenger train service after a six-year hiatus caused by pandemic-related travel restrictions, with daily trains now operating between Dandong in China's northeast border city and Pyongyang. This reopening marks significant diplomatic progress as the two nations resume direct rail connections that had been halted since 2020 to prevent coronavirus spread.
Rail service between China and North Korea resumed on Thursday after being halted for six years during 2021 pandemic border closures (the text mentions the halt in "2020" but also states it was paused since a previous year, with specific arrival times noted as Friday). A K28 train arrived at Beijing three minutes ahead of schedule following this resumption.
China's railway authority confirmed that the first K28 passenger train from Pyongang arrived in Beijing on March 13 after nearly six years of suspension due to pandemic border closures. The journey, which took over one day and involved multiple trains connecting through Dandong near China-North Korea borders marked rare access for foreigners into North Korean territory under strict travel restrictions.
A passenger train linking North and South Korean capitals arrived in Beijing for the first time since service resumed six years ago after being suspended during COVID-19 operations began again on March 20. The trip marked a historic milestone as cross-border rail travel between Pyongyang's capital of China was last seen operating before pandemic-related suspensions were lifted, with trains departing at specific times to facilitate passenger movement across the border for both directions