Russia begins direct flights to North Korea as Kim Jong Un gradually opens border

Russia on Sunday opened a regular air link between Moscow and Pyogyang, North Korea, a move reflecting increasingly close ties between the two countries

The first flight operated by Russian carrier Nordwind took off from Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport carrying over 400 passengers. Russia’s Transport Ministry said there will be one flight a month to meet demand.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who visited North Korea’s new Wonsan-Kalma beach resort earlier this month to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, promised to encourage Russian tourists to visit the complex.

The resort, which can accommodate nearly 20,000 people, is at the center of Kim’s push to boost tourism to improve his country’s troubled economy.

North Korea has been slowly reopening its borders in phases.

The country, however, hasn’t said if it would fully resume international tourism.