North Korea and China have established a new shipping lane, the first official route between the two countries, according to a recent report from Xinhua News Agency.

The new route connects the Longkou port of east China’s Shandong Peninsula to the DPRK’s Nampho port on the country’s west side.

The journey is just short of 500km and will see seven ships complete one round trip every 10 days. The vessels will move coal from North Korea and food from China in container ships.

“The opening of the route can help improve