Air travel between North Korea and Russia's Far East has resumed after a three-and-a-half-year suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A special flight operated by North Korean state-run carrier Air Koryo left an airport near Pyongyang and arrived at Vladivostok on Friday morning.

This is the first flight connecting the two sites since North Korea imposed tighter border controls in January 2020 to prevent the coronavirus from spreading in the country. The flight resumption comes as the two countries are rapidly deepening ties.

Last month, a Russian delegation led by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Pyongyang to attend a military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice.

North Korea also operated a special flight to the Chinese capital of Beijing on Tuesday.

The country appears to be preparing to resume regular international flights as part of its efforts to earn foreign currency.