Seoul, July 15
North Korea and Russia are set to launch a direct flight route between their capitals, Pyongyang and Moscow, later this month, a Russian news agency has reported.
Nordwind Airlines, a Russian budget passenger carrier, will begin direct flights linking the two cities on July 27, news agency reported quoting Tass, citing Russia's transport ministry.
It will mark the first time that the North Korean and Russian capitals are linked by direct air service, the news agency said.
The new air route follows Russian aviation authorities' recent approval of Nordwind's request last month to operate direct flights between Pyongyang and Moscow twice a week.
Tass said the flight time is about eight hours.
Currently, North Korea and Russia have direct flights only between Pyongyang and Vladivostok.