MOSCOW, November 30. /TASS/. Russia and North Korea are interested in the start of flights between the two countries as soon as possible, and they are working actively on boosting bilateral tourist flow, Russia’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Alexander Kozlov who visited Pyongyang earlier, said in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

"Currently we are working actively with the Korean side on boosting tourist flow both of Russian and Korean citizens. We will continue discussing the issue at the International Exhibition of Tourism and Hospitality Industry in March 2024 in Moscow where colleagues plan to organize an exhibition and a presentation of the Korean tourist destination," he said.

Both sides are very much interested in the launch of air service both for business goals and for tourist trips as soon as possible, the minister added. That said, since North Korea has not yet fully lifted coronavirus-related restrictions, the precise date of resumption of trips will be known when the country opens its borders, he noted.

It is also planned to hold one more intergovernmental meeting in 2024, Kozlov said.

The 10th meeting of the intergovernmental commission on Russia and North Korea on trade-economic and science-technical cooperation took place on November 15 in Pyongyang. Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Alexander Kozlov headed the Russian delegation.