Latest news with #Oleg
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Moscow starts direct flights to North Korea amid decline in options for Russian tourists
Direct flights from Moscow to North Korea have begun this week, amid a strengthening of ties between the two nations and a decline in options for Russian tourists travelling abroad. The first Moscow-Pyongyang flight, operated by Russia's Nordwind Airlines, took off on Sunday, according to the Sheremetyevo airport's website, and landed in the North Korean capital about eight hours later. The route will initially be serviced only once a month, Russia's transport ministry said, with the first return flight from Pyongyang to Moscow taking place on Tuesday. Nordwind Airlines – which used to carry Russians to holiday destinations in Europe before the EU imposed a ban on Russian flights – had tickets priced at 45,000 rubles ($570). 'This is a historical event, strengthening the ties between our nations,' Oleg, a Nordwind employee managing the flight who did not want to give his full name, told Agence France-Presse at the airport. He also declined to say how many passengers were onboard. Russia and North Korea have been forging closer military bonds in recent years, with Pyongyang supplying troops and weapons for Russia's military operations in Ukraine. They signed a mutual defence pact last year when the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, visited North Korea. 'For the first time in more than 70 years of diplomatic relations, we are launching direct flights between the capitals of our countries,' Russia's deputy transport minister, Vladimir Poteshkin, was quoted as saying on the ministry's Telegram account. It comes as North Korea pushes its own tourism drive, as it slowly relaxes restrictions on overseas visitors introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic. Regular tourism is still effectively banned, although Russian tourists have been allowed to visit certain parts of the country on group tours, and foreign runners competed in a marathon in Pyongyang in April. In June, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un launched a new beach resort located on the country's east coast which authorities reportedly hope will attract 20,000 visitors a year. With Agence France-Presse
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Russia resumes Moscow-Pyongyang commercial flights
SOUTH KOREA: A Russian passenger jetlanded at North Korea's main airport Monday, a flight tracking site showed, completing the first commercial leg in decades between capitals of the allied countries. Russia and North Korea have pulled closer in the last year, with Pyongyang sending weapons and troops to aid Moscow's war in Ukraine -- likely in exchange for technical assistance, experts say. Tracking site Flight Aware showed Russia's Nordwind Airlines' Boeing 777 landing in Pyongyang at 09:15 am (GMT 00:15). "This is a historical event, strengthening the ties between our nations," Oleg, a Nordwind employee on the flight who did not give his full name, told AFP at the airport in Moscow Sunday. A video posted on Russian news agency RIA Novosti's Telegram account showed North Korean officials and flight attendants welcoming the Russian passengers with flowers at Pyongyang's international airport. One North Korean official is seen checking the temperatures of the disembarking Russians with an electronic thermometer.
Daily Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Russia starts direct flights to North Korea
Russia Russia yesterday began direct commercial flights to North Korea, in a further sign of closer ties with its Asian ally helping its offensive in Ukraine. The first Moscow-Pyongyang flight, operated by Russia's Nordwind Airlines, took off at 1625 GMT, according to the Sheremetyevo airport's website. It is scheduled to land in the North Korean capital some eight hours later. But initially, the route will only be serviced once a month, Russia's transport ministry said. Nordwind Airlines -- which used to carry Russians to holiday destinations in Europe before the EU imposed a ban on Russian flights -- had tickets priced at 45,000 rubles ($570). "This is a historical event, strengthening the ties between our nations," Oleg, a Nordwind employee managing the flight who did not want to give his full name, told AFP at the airport. He also declined to say how many passengers were on board. "For the first time in more than 70 years of diplomatic relations, we are launching direct flights between the capitals of our countries," Russia's deputy transport minister Vladimir Poteshkin was quoted as saying by the ministry's Telegram account. Russia's state news agency TASS reported that the first return flight from Pyongyang to Moscow would take place on Tuesday. Russia and North Korea restored train links on June 17 after suspending them in 2020 during the Covid pandemic. The two countries have been forging closer military bonds in recent years, with Pyongyang supplying troops and weapons for Russia's military operations in Ukraine. They signed a mutual defence pact last year, when Russian President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea. North Korea confirmed for the first time in April that it had deployed a contingent of its soldiers to the frontline in Ukraine, alongside Russian troops.
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Russia starts direct flights to North Korea
Russia on Sunday began direct commercial flights to North Korea, in a further sign of closer ties with its Asian ally helping its offensive in Ukraine. The first Moscow-Pyongyang flight, operated by Russia's Nordwind Airlines, took off at 1625 GMT, according to the Sheremetyevo airport's website. It is scheduled to land in the North Korean capital some eight hours later. But initially, the route will only be serviced once a month, Russia's transport ministry said. Nordwind Airlines — which used to carry Russians to holiday destinations in Europe before the EU imposed a ban on Russian flights — had tickets priced at 45,000 rubles ($570). "This is a historical event, strengthening the ties between our nations," Oleg, a Nordwind employee managing the flight who did not want to give his full name, told AFP at the airport. He also declined to say how many passengers were on board.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Moscow starts direct flights to North Korea amid decline in options for Russian tourists
Direct flights from Moscow to North Korea have begun this week, amid a strengthening of ties between the two nations and a decline in options for Russian tourists travelling abroad. The first Moscow-Pyongyang flight, operated by Russia's Nordwind Airlines, took off on Sunday, according to the Sheremetyevo airport's website, and landed in the North Korean capital about eight hours later. The route will initially be serviced only once a month, Russia's transport ministry said, with the first return flight from Pyongyang to Moscow taking place on Tuesday. Nordwind Airlines – which used to carry Russians to holiday destinations in Europe before the EU imposed a ban on Russian flights – had tickets priced at 45,000 rubles ($570). 'This is a historical event, strengthening the ties between our nations,' Oleg, a Nordwind employee managing the flight who did not want to give his full name, told Agence France-Presse at the airport. He also declined to say how many passengers were onboard. Russia and North Korea have been forging closer military bonds in recent years, with Pyongyang supplying troops and weapons for Russia's military operations in Ukraine. They signed a mutual defence pact last year when the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, visited North Korea. 'For the first time in more than 70 years of diplomatic relations, we are launching direct flights between the capitals of our countries,' Russia's deputy transport minister, Vladimir Poteshkin, was quoted as saying on the ministry's Telegram account. It comes as North Korea pushes its own tourism drive, as it slowly relaxes restrictions on overseas visitors introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic. Regular tourism is still effectively banned, although Russian tourists have been allowed to visit certain parts of the country on group tours, and foreign runners competed in a marathon in Pyongyang in April. In June, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un launched a new beach resort located on the country's east coast which authorities reportedly hope will attract 20,000 visitors a year. With Agence France-Presse
