Kim Jong-un unveils missile site turned beach resort in North Korea, tourists may be next
North Korea has officially opened the long-delayed Wonsan Kalma coastal resort, a project leader Kim Jong Un hopes will boost domestic tourism and eventually attract international visitors, according to state media KCNA. The resort, six years behind schedule, is set to welcome North Korean tourists beginning 1 July, though no timeline has been confirmed for opening it to foreigners.
Spanning a 4-km (2.5-mile) stretch of the east coast, the resort reportedly includes hotels, restaurants, a shopping complex, and a water park, and claims to accommodate up to 20,000 visitors — none of which has been independently verified.
Kim, who spent part of his childhood in Wonsan where many of the country's elite own private villas, has pushed to transform the town into a showcase for tourism. The area previously served as a missile testing site.
Kim marked the resort's completion on 24 June with a ceremony attended by his wife, Ri Sol Ju, making her first public appearance since January, and their daughter, Kim Ju Ae. Kim described the launch as a 'great, auspicious event of the whole country' and a 'prelude to the new era' in tourism. Russian ambassador Alexander Matsegora and his embassy staff also attended the ceremony, underscoring Pyongyang's strengthening ties with Moscow.
While North Korea is among the world's most isolated and impoverished nations — heavily sanctioned over its nuclear weapons programme — it is eyeing tourism as a revenue source. Foreign visitors, largely from China and Russia, have been allowed in under tight controls. The COVID-19 pandemic saw borders shut in 2020, with limited re-openings beginning in 2023.
Although North Korea briefly admitted some Western tourists earlier this year, including visitors from the UK, Germany, and Australia, it abruptly halted those entries without explanation weeks later.
Tour operators are cautiously optimistic. Rowan Beard of Young Pioneer Tours told the BBC he had hoped the Wonsan launch signaled a broader opening to international tourism, but said that 'doesn't seem to be the case for now.' He added that the resort was 'unlikely to be a major draw for most Western tourists' compared to the likes of Pyongyang or the DMZ.
Still, others say the resort could appeal to travellers interested in offbeat destinations. 'It's intriguing to experience something as familiar as a beach resort that's been shaped within the unique cultural context of North Korea,' said Elliott Davies of Uri Tours.
The opening of Wonsan Kalma comes as North Korea and Russia solidify their partnership in defiance of Western sanctions. North Korea has reportedly sent troops to support Russia in Ukraine, and this week, the two nations resumed direct passenger rail service between their capitals for the first time since the pandemic began.
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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
North Korea to open beach resort: Kim Jong Un hails it as tourism milestone; foreign visitors' timeline remains unclear
North Korea is set to open the long-delayed Wonsan-Kalma beach resort on July 1, with leader Kim Jong Un hailing the development as a cornerstone of his strategy to expand tourism in the deeply isolated country. According to state media KCNA, the resort will initially welcome domestic tourists, though there is no timeline yet for foreign arrivals. The coastal complex, built on a 4-kilometre stretch of beach on the east coast, was first slated to open in 2019. It features hotels, restaurants, malls and a water park, all intended to accommodate up to 20,000 visitors, according to North Korean media. These claims, however, remain independently unverified. Kim, who reportedly spent part of his youth in Wonsan, has been attempting to transform the city, once a missile testing hub, into a showcase for luxury and development. He attended the resort's completion ceremony on June 24, accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju Ae and wife Ri Sol Ju, who made her first public appearance since a New Year's Day event. Russian ambassador Alexander Matsegora and other embassy staff were also present. State outlet KCNA described the opening as a 'great, auspicious event of the whole country' and 'a prelude to the new era' in tourism. While North Korea remains one of the most sanctioned and impoverished countries in the world, tourism is one of the few avenues available for generating foreign revenue. Analysts believe the regime is looking to capitalise on its limited tourism market, largely comprising visitors from China and Russia. Westerners, though technically allowed in, typically arrive through curated tour groups and have limited access to the country. 'I was hoping this might signal a broader reopening to international tourism, but unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case for now,' said Rowan Beard, co-founder of Young Pioneer Tours, speaking to the BBC. The pandemic severely curtailed foreign tourism, with the country closing its borders in early 2020 and only partially reopening to Russian tourists in 2024. A brief window in February 2025 allowed small numbers of Western tourists from the UK, France, Germany and Australia to enter, but this was abruptly halted weeks later without explanation. Beard expressed scepticism about the resort's broader appeal. 'It is unlikely to be a major draw for most Western tourists,' he said. 'Key sites like Pyongyang, the DMZ, and other brutalist or communist landmarks will continue to be the main highlights for international visitors once broader tourism resumes.' However, some believe the project offers unique travel intrigue. 'It's intriguing to experience something as familiar as a beach resort that's been shaped within the unique cultural context of North Korea,' said Elliott Davies, director of Uri Tours. The timing of the resort's opening also coincides with closer ties between North Korea and Russia. The two nations recently resumed a direct passenger train route between their capitals after a five-year suspension due to the pandemic. Analysts expect that Russian nationals may be among the first foreign visitors to Wonsan, as Moscow and Pyongyang deepen their cooperation. North Korea has also reportedly sent troops to aid Russia in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, further underscoring the growing strategic alignment between the two isolated states.
Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Indian Express
Kim Jong-un unveils missile site turned beach resort in North Korea, tourists may be next
North Korea has officially opened the long-delayed Wonsan Kalma coastal resort, a project leader Kim Jong Un hopes will boost domestic tourism and eventually attract international visitors, according to state media KCNA. The resort, six years behind schedule, is set to welcome North Korean tourists beginning 1 July, though no timeline has been confirmed for opening it to foreigners. Spanning a 4-km (2.5-mile) stretch of the east coast, the resort reportedly includes hotels, restaurants, a shopping complex, and a water park, and claims to accommodate up to 20,000 visitors — none of which has been independently verified. Kim, who spent part of his childhood in Wonsan where many of the country's elite own private villas, has pushed to transform the town into a showcase for tourism. The area previously served as a missile testing site. Kim marked the resort's completion on 24 June with a ceremony attended by his wife, Ri Sol Ju, making her first public appearance since January, and their daughter, Kim Ju Ae. Kim described the launch as a 'great, auspicious event of the whole country' and a 'prelude to the new era' in tourism. Russian ambassador Alexander Matsegora and his embassy staff also attended the ceremony, underscoring Pyongyang's strengthening ties with Moscow. While North Korea is among the world's most isolated and impoverished nations — heavily sanctioned over its nuclear weapons programme — it is eyeing tourism as a revenue source. Foreign visitors, largely from China and Russia, have been allowed in under tight controls. The COVID-19 pandemic saw borders shut in 2020, with limited re-openings beginning in 2023. Although North Korea briefly admitted some Western tourists earlier this year, including visitors from the UK, Germany, and Australia, it abruptly halted those entries without explanation weeks later. Tour operators are cautiously optimistic. Rowan Beard of Young Pioneer Tours told the BBC he had hoped the Wonsan launch signaled a broader opening to international tourism, but said that 'doesn't seem to be the case for now.' He added that the resort was 'unlikely to be a major draw for most Western tourists' compared to the likes of Pyongyang or the DMZ. Still, others say the resort could appeal to travellers interested in offbeat destinations. 'It's intriguing to experience something as familiar as a beach resort that's been shaped within the unique cultural context of North Korea,' said Elliott Davies of Uri Tours. The opening of Wonsan Kalma comes as North Korea and Russia solidify their partnership in defiance of Western sanctions. North Korea has reportedly sent troops to support Russia in Ukraine, and this week, the two nations resumed direct passenger rail service between their capitals for the first time since the pandemic began.
Economic Times
8 hours ago
- Economic Times
Indian Railways to hike passenger fares from July 1: Sources
ET Bureau Indian Railways Fare Hike: Check Revised Ticket Price Live Events There will be no increase in suburban fares. Monthly season ticket prices will remain unchanged. In ordinary second class, there will be no fare hike for distances up to 500 km. For distances beyond 500 km in ordinary second class, the fare will increase by half a paise per kilometer. In Mail and Express (Non-AC) trains, the fare will increase by 1 paise per kilometer. In AC classes, the fare will go up by 2 paise per kilometer. (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Indian Railways is set to increase passenger train fares for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. The minor increase in fares will be effective from July 1, 2025. Sources told The Economic Times that the passenger fare for non-AC Mail/Express trains will be hiked by 1 paise per kilometre. The fare hike for AC classes will be 2 paise per there will be no increase in fare for suburban tickets and second-class travel for 500 kilometres of travel. For distances greater than 500 kilometres, the hike will be half paise per kilometre. Additionally, there will be no hike in the monthly season are the revised fares that will come into effect on July 1:Earlier this month, Indian Railways made a significant announcement requiring Aadhaar authentication for tatkal train ticket bookings starting July 1, 2025. Through a directive issued on June 10, 2025, the Railway Ministry has informed all railway zones that this new requirement is intended "to ensure that the benefits of the Tatkal Scheme are received by the common end users."The railways' official notice stated that "With effect from 01-07-2025, tickets under Tatkal scheme can be booked through the website of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation ( IRCTC )/ its app only by Aadhaar authenticated users."The ministry has also announced that beginning July 15, 2025, travellers will be required to complete an additional step of Aadhaar-based OTP authentication whilst booking tatkal new guidelines established limitations on Tatkal ticket reservations for authorised booking agents of Indian representatives are now barred from booking first-day Tatkal tickets within the initial half-hour window. The restriction is effective from 10.00 am to 10.30 am for AC class bookings and from 11.00 am to 11.30 am for non-AC class railway ministry has directed both the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) and IRCTC to make necessary system modifications and communicate these changes to all zonal railway divisions. This initiative seeks to streamline the Tatkal reservation process for travellers.
