A new passenger ferry service has been launched connecting Russia with North Korea.

The ferry docked in Vladivostok for the first time on Thursday and will now operate weekly between the Russian Pacific port and the North Korean city of Rajin.

Reuters reports that the ferry service is being pitched at Chinese tourists wanting to travel by sea to Vladivostok, as China has no ports on the Sea of Japan. It reported that some of the passengers onboard the inaugural service were representatives of Chinese tour companies.

The Russian company operating the ferry, Investstroytrest, said that it is doing so purely a commercial venture, “without any state subsidies, involvement and help”.

The port of Vladivostok is home to one of the world’s largest overseas communities of North Koreans.