By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Direct flights between Moscow and Pyongyang have commenced this week, marking a deepening relationship between Russia and North Korea. The inaugural flight, operated by Nordwind Airlines, departed Moscow on Sunday and is scheduled to operate monthly, with the first return flight from Pyongyang taking place on Tuesday. This new route arises from Russia’s declining travel options and North Korea’s efforts to boost tourism, particularly as the two nations have strengthened military ties in recent years. The launch of direct flights is described as a historical event, further solidifying diplomatic relations between the two countries.
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Moscow starts direct flights to North Korea amid decline in options for Russian tourists. Well, that’s certainly a headline that sparks a few thoughts, doesn’t it? My initial reaction? Gulag to gulag direct, yay! I mean, really, a vacation to North Korea? It’s hard to picture the average Russian family excitedly packing their bags for Pyongyang. It feels a bit… unusual, to say the least.
Perhaps this is all about that new waterpark with the “sketchy slides” that North Korea built. Maybe the Russians are funding it! I guess it’s a hot destination, or so they say, especially the nightlife and beaches. That’s if you can get back home. The thing is, it does seem like a major red flag. And honestly, I can’t shake the feeling that this is more than just a vacation plan. This could easily be used for embargoed trade going one way and, well, a lot of people going the other way, on a one-way ticket.
It’s interesting, because I hear some of the usual travel spots like Georgia, Turkey, Goa, Phuket, and Bali are flooded with Russians right now. So, it’s not quite the Iron Curtain, is it? Despite that, the idea of choosing North Korea for a holiday is… well, it’s quite something. It just feels like a front for something else, a way to ship things that shouldn’t be shipped. It’s hard to imagine it being a desirable destination on its own.
And, you know, I do wonder what a Russian tourist might actually *want* to do there? What is the selling point? What itinerary would they make? The land of starving people and missiles, why leave home? Seems like a strange choice. How many Russian tourists does it take to close North Korea’s borders? It’s just hard to see it as a “great” vacation, right? And really, with destinations like Thailand still open to them, why North Korea?
There’s also that slightly grim thought that this is a way for Putin to swap tourists for troops. I mean, it’s not really a secret that Russian tourists can sometimes behave badly. And North Korea isn’t exactly known for its tolerance. The match seems… less than ideal. One pariah state to another, as someone said.
And let’s be honest, there’s always a feeling that this could be for something other than tourism. I can imagine that the flight is heavily subsidized, and the whole situation feels very… transactional. Putin could be sending vacationers to Iran, too, and I am sure Iran will be very interested since supreme leader is short on money there. It’s all a bit bleak, isn’t it? Makes you wonder, what’s the point of these trips?
If I was Russian, I’d feel pretty safe. They could get away with anything over there. I do know that North Korea does actually have resorts and tourist areas, though, right? I remember coming across a video of one. It wasn’t anything that would entice me, but it was still surprising. Still, I can’t imagine NK being a tourist draw for Russians at all. And like, who wants to go there anyway?
It’s interesting, because North Korea was actually making moves to be a tourist destination before the war in Ukraine, it seems, but then the Russian military money started flowing, and the focus shifted. In the end, it might just be a trip to the front lines for North Korean soldiers.