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.

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 at the station to greet the passengers arriving on the train.

Extending a warm welcome, Wang described the resumption of the rail link as "a good development the people of 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 China-DPRK international passenger train serves as a vital gateway for cross-border travelers and a dynamic link fostering friendship between China and the DPRK.

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.

(With input from Xinhua)