Russia is set to commence direct flights from Moscow to Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, later this month, as announced by the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) on Wednesday.

The Russian civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, has granted a license to the charter airline Nordwind to operate biweekly flights between Moscow and Pyongyang. ATOR noted that Nordwind submitted its application for the license back in June.

At present, the only existing direct air connection between the two nations is provided by Air Koryo, which operates a flight twice a week from Pyongyang to Vladivostok, a city in the Russian Far East. This particular route made its comeback in August 2023, having been suspended for three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Approximately when travel between Vladivostok and Pyongyang resumed, reports indicated that Rosaviatsia was urging Russian airlines to set up regular services to North Korea following discussions with North Korean aviation representatives.

As per ATOR’s information, Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow included flights to Pyongyang in its schedule starting from July 27.

Since Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, North Korea has increasingly aligned itself with Moscow, becoming one of its closest allies. The U.S. and its allies have accused North Korea of providing Russia with artillery and missiles for use in the conflict in Ukraine.

High-ranking Russian officials have undertaken numerous prominent visits to North Korea, and a mutual defense agreement was signed during President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Pyongyang last year.