North Korea opens new beach resort to promote tourism but keeps it exclusive for Russians

First Post

26-06-2025

Hailing the resort as the country's 'greatest feats' of the year, Kim oversaw revellers at the resort as he sat with his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, and his wife, Ri Sol-ju, in a dark suit, white shirt and tie, a break from his traditional Mao suit read more
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae watch a person sliding down a slide during a ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, in Wonsan, North Korea, June 24, 2025.
North Korea has a new beach resort, and Kim Jong Un, who usually brandishes missiles, was seen promoting the holiday destination, accompanied by his family. State media reported on Thursday that the Wonsan Kalma beach resort zone is officially open after nearly seven years of construction.
Hailing the resort as the country's 'greatest feats' of the year, Kim oversaw revellers at the resort as he sat with his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, and his wife, Ri Sol-ju, in a dark suit, white shirt and tie, a break from his traditional Mao suit.
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After cutting the ribbon at the opening ceremony, Kim hailed the project as a 'brilliant reality,' realised after more than a decade of effort and escalating construction costs. He said it would 'play a leading role in shaping North Korea's tourist culture.'
According to KCNA, Kim inaugurated the resort alongside Russian Ambassador Alexander Matsegora as his special guest earlier this week.
About the resort
Spanning three miles (5 km) of beachfront on the Kalma Peninsula, the resort includes hundreds of structures—among them 54 hotels, a large outdoor and indoor waterpark, a mini-golf course, movie theater, multiple shopping malls, dozens of restaurants, five beer pubs, and two video game arcades, according to a guide map at the northern entrance.
The project began in early 2018 but encountered construction setbacks and was further delayed by the pandemic.
The resort will open to domestic tourists on July 1. Although no foreign tourists are allowed in the country owing to Covid-era restrictions, Russian tour company Vostok Intur has arranged a week-long trip for a group of travellers on July 7, according to the resort's website.
Their itinerary includes flying from Pyongyang to Wonsan on July 8, spending four nights at the resort, followed by a one-night stay at the nearby Masikryong ski resort, before returning to the capital for a day of sightseeing.
Tourism in North Korea
While tourism is one of a narrow range of cash sources for North Korea, not targeted by United Nations sanctions, the reclusive state did not have a major foreign partner for the Wonsan project against the backdrop of sanctions over its weapons programmes.
North Korea sealed its borders in 2020 at the start of the pandemic but has been slowly lifting restrictions since 2023.
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It has allowed Russian tourist groups into the country, but its capital and other parts of the country remain closed to regular tourism, though in April, it held a marathon event hosting foreign runners.