Russia resumes Moscow-Pyongyang commercial flights

Russia on Sunday began direct commercial flights to North Korea. North Korean officials welcomed Russian passengers with flowers at Pyongyang's international airport as the countries resume the flights in decades.

The first Moscow-Pyongyang flight, operated by Russia's Nordwind Airlines, took off at 1625 GMT, according to the Sheremetyevo airport's website. Russia's state news agency TASS reported that the first return flight from Pyongyang to Moscow would take place on Tuesday.