An international passenger train from the city of Dandong in northeast China's Liaoning Province to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) arrived in Pyongyang on Thursday.
At 18:07, the train arrived at a railway station in central Pyongyang, the capital of the DPRK, marking the official resumption of two-way international passenger train services after a six-year hiatus.
Chinese Ambassador to the DPRK Wang Yajun, some other Chinese diplomats, and an official in charge of external affairs at the DPRK railway ministry came to the platform of the station to greet the passengers aboard the train.
Extending a warm welcome, Wang described the resumption of the rail link as "a good development the peoples from both countries have been looking forward to and a significant event in bilateral relations."
China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. announced Tuesday that international passenger trains connecting China and the DPRK would begin operating in both directions on Thursday.
The services will connect Beijing and Dandong with Pyongyang, helping facilitate cross-border travel and boost economic, trade and cultural exchanges between the two countries, the Chinese railway operator said.
Trains between Beijing and Pyongyang will run four days a week, with two-way services scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, while the Dandong-Pyongyang train service will operate daily in both directions, the operator said.
The train link, first launched in 1954, was suspended in January 2020.
Int'l passenger train from China to DPRK arrives in Pyongyang
People across Iran took to the streets on Friday to mark International Quds Day, an annual event expressing support for Palestinians and condemnation of Israeli actions.
Several high-ranking Iranian officials also took part in the rallies in Tehran, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Larijani, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei as well as cabinet ministers, such as Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi.
The event, established by Iran in 1979, is observed on the final Friday of the fasting month of Ramadan. This year, it fell on March 13 and amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran.
In the capital, people marched from 10 different locations towards the iconic Enghelab Square in central Tehran, while waving Iran's flags and holding pictures of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his successor, Mojtaba Khamenei.
The marchers condemned the "crimes" committed by the United States and Israel, voiced their support for the Iranian armed forces, and pledged allegiance to the new supreme leader.
According to the official news agency IRNA, Tehran's central areas near the rally path came under U.S. and Israeli airstrikes in the early minutes of the gathering, killing at least one person. Addressing reporters after the strikes, Larijani said the attacks are "out of fear and desperation."
Araghchi said despite the attacks today, millions of people have taken part in the rallies across Iran, which shows "the Iranians' firm determination and will in supporting" the country.
On Feb 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the Middle East.
Iran's Assembly of Experts on Sunday announced the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran's new supreme leader.
Iranians hold mass rallies to mark Quds Day amid U.S.-Israeli attacks
