Latest news with #38North
The Star
4 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Foreigners barred from beach resort after Russian diplomat's trip to site
THE Hermit Kingdom has suspended foreigners' access to a newly opened beach resort on its east coast, just days after Russia's top diplomat visited the area and vowed to help increase tourist flows to the isolated country. North Korea's National Tourism Administration said the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area that began operations this month is temporarily not accepting foreign guests, without elaborating. The beach resort is one of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's pet projects. Kim has a private mansion on the coast, and during construction of the facilities he often visited the site to oversee progress on a project that features about 7,000 guest rooms in luxury hotels and private villas, an outdoor waterpark and an airport, according to state media. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited the resort town during his recent North Korea trip in which he met with Kim on the leader's yacht. Lavrov said at a meeting with his North Korean counterpart in Wonsan that Russia will 'do everything' to expand the flow of Russian tourists to North Korea. Tourism is a key revenue source for the sanctions-hit Kim regime but the country has been allowing only a trickle of inbound tourists from Russia since it began easing its pandemic border restrictions. North Korean authorities keep close tabs on overseas visitors, who are usually required to stay at lodgings designated for use by foreigners and restricted in their movements in the country. It's not immediately clear why North Korea decided to restrict foreigners' access to the resort area, but some analysts say there's more work to be done on the project. 'The resort is undoubtedly open, but it's not quite finished yet,' the 38 North programme at the Stimson Center said, citing satellite imagery. 'One of the largest buildings at the resort, a hotel near the Kalmaegi Hotel, does not appear to be in use. There is little activity nearby and the rooftop pool has yet to be filled with water.' Lavrov's latest visit took place less than a month after Pyongyang agreed at a June meeting between Kim and Sergei Shoigu to send an additional 6,000 military workers to the Kursk region. Shoigu is Putin's top security aide and a former Russian defence minister. — Bloomberg
Miami Herald
4 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Satellite Images Show Boost to North Korea's Rocket Production
North Korea has completed construction of a pier at a key space launch facility, according to satellite imagery, with analysis suggesting it was built to transport large rocket components. The pier is part of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station, located in the northwestern region of North Korea, where the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, ordered the site to be expanded and modernized in March 2022 for launching large rockets and testing rocket engines. Newsweek reached out to the North Korean Embassy in China via email for comment. While North Korea has frequently fired ballistic missiles for testing and exercises, it has also launched rockets in attempts to place satellites into Earth's orbit, an activity prohibited by the United Nations Security Council, as it is seen as benefiting its ballistic missile program. According to the Arms Control Association, ballistic missiles and satellite-carrier rockets share "very similar" technologies and components, including rocket engines, navigation and guidance systems, and payload separation mechanisms for both warheads and satellites. During his 2018 meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore, Kim committed to dismantling the Sohae Satellite Launching Station as part of an agreement to secure a reprieve from sanctions against his country, which he later broke. Satellite imagery provided by Planet Labs PBC shows that the pier was under construction as of May 25 and was completed by Monday. Satellite operator ICEYE told Reuters that the pier "enables transport of larger rocket components than previously possible via rail." The pier, located south of the space launch facility, was likely extended to allow "deeper draft vessels to be unloaded" at the seaport, according to a March analysis by the 38 North project, which focuses on North Korea and is run by the Stimson Center think tank. Efforts to expand the facility's infrastructure included road construction, which could either widen the existing road or serve as the basis for railway tracks, according to the 38 North project. North Korea has built two launch sites at the facility, known as the main launch pad and the coastal launch pad. The former has not been used for any launch activity since 2016, while the latter has been used for post-2016 launch attempts as of last November. According to the 38 North project, North Korea attempted to launch satellite rockets at least nine times between August 1998 and May 2024, with three of them considered successful. In the most recent attempt, the rocket exploded during the first stage of flight after launch. The Beyond Parallel project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies said in its analysis in May 2024: "Satellite imagery of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station shows that over the past year, North Korea has continued its large-scale development project for the facility. "This project has demonstrated planning flexibility, achieved several significant goals, and is moving toward its stated goal of developing the facility into a diverse rocket and missile complex capable of supporting the development and launching of larger and more sophisticated [space launch vehicles], satellites, and missiles." The 38 North project said in its analysis in March: "As springtime brings warmer weather and softer ground, work to expand the road and rail infrastructure throughout North Korea's Sohae Satellite Launching Station continues. Recent commercial satellite imagery indicates that efforts to cut a new road, or possible rail bed, connecting the east tunnel entrance with the coastal launch pad and southern seaport are underway, which could allow for vehicles or launch materials to easily travel to and from the various parts of the complex." It remains to be seen whether North Korea will attempt to launch rockets to place additional satellites into space. Its southern neighbor, South Korea, has launched four of five planned spy satellites in less than two years to enhance its reconnaissance capabilities. Related Articles North Korea Warns US Over Strategic Bombers Near AirspaceNorth Korea Pledges 'Unconditional Support' to Russia in Ukraine War: KCNARussia Sends North Korea's Nukes Signal to US AlliesUS Alliance Gets Major Missile Defense Boost Against Pacific Adversaries 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Satellite Images Show Boost to North Korea's Rocket Production
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. North Korea has completed construction of a pier at a key space launch facility, according to satellite imagery, with analysis suggesting it was built to transport large rocket components. The pier is part of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station, located in the northwestern region of North Korea, where the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, ordered the site to be expanded and modernized in March 2022 for launching large rockets and testing rocket engines. Newsweek reached out to the North Korean Embassy in China via email for comment. Why It Matters While North Korea has frequently fired ballistic missiles for testing and exercises, it has also launched rockets in attempts to place satellites into Earth's orbit, an activity prohibited by the United Nations Security Council, as it is seen as benefiting its ballistic missile program. According to the Arms Control Association, ballistic missiles and satellite-carrier rockets share "very similar" technologies and components, including rocket engines, navigation and guidance systems, and payload separation mechanisms for both warheads and satellites. During his 2018 meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore, Kim committed to dismantling the Sohae Satellite Launching Station as part of an agreement to secure a reprieve from sanctions against his country, which he later broke. What To Know Satellite imagery provided by Planet Labs PBC shows that the pier was under construction as of May 25 and was completed by Monday. Satellite operator ICEYE told Reuters that the pier "enables transport of larger rocket components than previously possible via rail." 1 of 2 The pier, located south of the space launch facility, was likely extended to allow "deeper draft vessels to be unloaded" at the seaport, according to a March analysis by the 38 North project, which focuses on North Korea and is run by the Stimson Center think tank. Efforts to expand the facility's infrastructure included road construction, which could either widen the existing road or serve as the basis for railway tracks, according to the 38 North project. North Korea has built two launch sites at the facility, known as the main launch pad and the coastal launch pad. The former has not been used for any launch activity since 2016, while the latter has been used for post-2016 launch attempts as of last November. According to the 38 North project, North Korea attempted to launch satellite rockets at least nine times between August 1998 and May 2024, with three of them considered successful. In the most recent attempt, the rocket exploded during the first stage of flight after launch. What People Are Saying The Beyond Parallel project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies said in its analysis in May 2024: "Satellite imagery of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station shows that over the past year, North Korea has continued its large-scale development project for the facility. "This project has demonstrated planning flexibility, achieved several significant goals, and is moving toward its stated goal of developing the facility into a diverse rocket and missile complex capable of supporting the development and launching of larger and more sophisticated [space launch vehicles], satellites, and missiles." The 38 North project said in its analysis in March: "As springtime brings warmer weather and softer ground, work to expand the road and rail infrastructure throughout North Korea's Sohae Satellite Launching Station continues. Recent commercial satellite imagery indicates that efforts to cut a new road, or possible rail bed, connecting the east tunnel entrance with the coastal launch pad and southern seaport are underway, which could allow for vehicles or launch materials to easily travel to and from the various parts of the complex." A rocket is pictured at the Sohae Satellite Launching Station in North Korea on April 8, 2012. A rocket is pictured at the Sohae Satellite Launching Station in North Korea on April 8, 2012. PEDRO UGARTE/AFP via Getty Images What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether North Korea will attempt to launch rockets to place additional satellites into space. Its southern neighbor, South Korea, has launched four of five planned spy satellites in less than two years to enhance its reconnaissance capabilities.
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
North Korea abruptly stops admitting foreign tourists to Kalma beach resort
North Korea has decided to temporarily stop receiving foreign tourists at its new beach resort located in the coastal city of Wonsan, Pyongyang's state-run tourism promotion website showed Friday, without providing an explanation. Less than a month after the North opened the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, boasting that it could accommodate nearly 20,000 guests, a notice has been posted on the website DPR Korea Tour that the resort is 'temporarily not receiving foreign tourists.' DPR Korea Tour is operated by the North's National Tourism Administration. The reason for the decision and the effective date of the suspension were not posted on the website. The announcement follows a recent report from 38 North, a US-based North Korea monitoring site, which claimed that the resort seems 'undoubtedly open,' but the construction is 'not quite finished yet.' The report was based on high-resolution satellite images taken around July 12, during Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's visit to the area to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui last week. One of the largest buildings at the resort, a hotel, does not appear to be in use, the report noted. Russian newspapers also recently reported on visits to the resort area by both journalists and tourists, focusing on the apparently empty beaches -- in contrast to the promotional images released by the North, which show stand-in North Korean vacationers and few foreign tourists. According to reports by various news outlets, including the BBC and the Russian daily Izvestia, foreign tourists who visited the resort area said the price of a weeklong package tour ranged from $1,600 to $1,800 per person, which observers say is relatively expensive for the Russian middle class. In Russia, middle class workers typically earn between $670 and $2,000 per month, according to a report published last year by employee time-tracking app operator DeskCove. The Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, unveiled in a ceremony on June 24, is on North Korea's eastern coast. It is believed to be aimed at attracting foreign tourists, though service for domestic guests was set to begin July 1, according to Pyongyang's state-run Korean Central News Agency.
Mint
5 days ago
- Business
- Mint
North Korea Bans Foreigners From Beach Resort After Lavrov Trip
North Korea has suspended foreigners' access to a newly opened beach resort on its east coast, just days after Russia's top diplomat visited the area and vowed to help increase tourist flows to the isolated country. North Korea's National Tourism Administration said the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area that began operations this month is temporarily not accepting foreign guests, without elaborating. The beach resort is one of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's pet projects. Kim has a private mansion on the coast, and during construction of the facilities he often visited the site to oversee progress on a project that features about 7,000 guest rooms in luxury hotels and private villas, an outdoor waterpark and an airport, according to state media. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited the resort town during his recent North Korea trip in which he met with Kim on the leader's yacht. Lavrov said at a meeting with his North Korean counterpart in Wonsan that Russia will 'do everything' to expand the flow of Russian tourists to North Korea. Tourism is a key revenue source for the sanctions-hit Kim regime but the country has been allowing only a trickle of inbound tourists from Russia since it began easing its pandemic border restrictions. North Korean authorities keep close tabs on overseas visitors, who are usually required to stay at lodgings designated for use by foreigners and restricted in their movements in the country. President Donald Trump also floated a coastal real estate development plan in exchange for a North Korean pledge to denuclearize during his first summit with Kim in 2018. 'They have great beaches,' Trump said at a news conference at that time. 'You see that whenever they're exploding their cannons into the ocean, right? I said, 'Boy, look at that view. Wouldn't that make a great condo?'' he added. Trump's real estate diplomacy with Kim produced few results, however. The two leaders met in person three times, but the discussions didn't persuade Kim to slow the development of his nuclear weapons program. North Korea has since rebuffed the idea of sitting down with the US again and has emerged as a key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, supporting his war on Ukraine. It's not immediately clear why North Korea decided to restrict foreigners' access to the resort area, but some analysts say there's more work to be done on the project. 'The resort is undoubtedly open, but it's not quite finished yet,' the 38 North program at the Stimson Center said, citing satellite imagery. 'One of the largest buildings at the resort, a hotel near the Kalmaegi Hotel, does not appear to be in use. There is little activity nearby and the rooftop pool has yet to be filled with water.' Lavrov's latest visit took place less than a month after Pyongyang agreed at a June meeting between Kim and Sergei Shoigu to send an additional 6,000 military workers to the Kursk region. Shoigu is Putin's top security aide and a former Russian defense minister. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
