Russian diplomats, who returned from the DPRK on a railcar, were in a hurry to return home on the basis of Medina testimony from their children. The reason for choosing a non-standard way of transportation was revealed at a press conference by the third secretary of the embassy, Vladislav Sorokin, who was pushing the loaded cart, the Lenta.ru correspondent reports.
The diplomat noted that from his point of view, there was nothing extraordinary in such a return to his homeland. According to him, the employees of the Russian diplomatic mission themselves asked the Korean side for such an option to leave the country. Sorokin explained that North Korea has established a “less exotic” channel for foreigners to travel by bus to China, from where they can already return to their homeland.
“This option did not suit us and was extremely undesirable. We had three families leaving, each with their own circumstances, including medical ones for children – nothing urgent, but, nevertheless, it required our prompt departure to Russia, and not to China, “Sorokin said.
The diplomat said that the trip was a “great adventure” for the children. Sorokin explained that since January 2020, diplomats and their families have been living in Pyongyang without leaving because of the epidemiological measures in force in the country. “Therefore, the train ride to the border itself, not to mention the trolley, was something new for the children, which they had long forgotten about – a real journey. At the border, they twisted their heads in anticipation of their homeland, they wanted to breathe [ee] the air as soon as possible, and when we crossed the border line, they were very happy, “the diplomat said.
The “journey” of diplomats became known in the evening of February 25. The Russians were unable to leave the territory of the neighboring country in the usual way, since passenger traffic between Russia and the DPRK was interrupted due to the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, the Russians reached the border area by public transport, but they had to cross the Tumannaya River, which separates the countries, by a railway bridge on a non-self-propelled railcar.