Moscow starts direct flights to North Korea amid decline in options for Russian tourists

The Moscow-Pyongyang flights operated by Russia's Nordwind Airlines will initially operate only once a month

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.