North Korea has officially opened a beach resort that leader Kim Jong Un hopes will help drive tourism to the isolated communist nation, state media reported this week.
The Wonsan Kalma resort, located along the country’s eastern coast, is set to begin receiving domestic tourists on 1 July, six years after its original completion date. It remains unclear when the resort will be opened to international visitors.
Wonsan holds personal significance for Kim, who reportedly spent part of his youth there. The area is also home to private villas used by North Korea’s political elite and was previously the site of missile testing. Kim has been pushing to transform the town into a tourism destination.
According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the new development spans 4km (2.5 miles) of coastline and can host up to 20,000 guests. The complex reportedly includes hotels, restaurants, shopping centres, and a water park, though these claims have not been independently verified.
Despite facing decades of international sanctions over its nuclear weapons programme, North Korea has continued to invest heavily in military infrastructure and monument-style projects, especially in Pyongyang, aimed at reinforcing the image and legacy of the ruling Kim family.
The country remains one of the poorest in the world.
Analysts say the resort may be part of Pyongyang’s effort to generate foreign currency. Although North Korea allows some foreign tourism, most international visitors historically come from China and Russia, two of its few diplomatic allies.
“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.
International tourism to North Korea collapsed in early 2020 after the country closed its borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Restrictions were gradually eased in mid-2023, with Russian tourists admitted the following year.
In February, Western visitors from the UK, France, Germany, and Australia briefly entered via China, but the country halted tourism again weeks later without explanation.
Some tour operators remain sceptical about Wonsan’s appeal to foreign travellers. “It’s unlikely to be a major draw for most Western tourists,” said Beard.
“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.”
Still, others believe the resort offers niche interest. Elliott Davies, director of Uri Tours, said North Korea holds a unique fascination for certain types of travellers.
“It’s intriguing to experience something as familiar as a beach resort that’s been shaped within the unique cultural context of North Korea,” he said.
KCNA hailed the resort’s completion as a “great, auspicious event of the whole country” and described it as a “prelude to the new era” in national tourism. Construction was originally scheduled to be completed in 2019 but faced delays even before the pandemic.
Kim Jong Un attended the inauguration ceremony on 24 June, accompanied by his wife Ri Sol Ju and daughter Kim Ju Ae.
It was Ri’s first public appearance since a New Year’s Day event. Russian ambassador Alexander Matsegora and embassy staff were also present.
Some travel agencies believe Russian nationals may be among the first foreigners granted access to the new resort, as Moscow and Pyongyang continue to strengthen ties.
The resort’s opening coincides with renewed cooperation between North Korea and Russia amid rising tensions with the West. Pyongyang has reportedly sent troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine.
On Thursday, North Korea and Russia also resumed direct passenger rail service between their capitals, ending a five-year suspension caused by the pandemic.
