North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has unveiled the Wonsan Kalma beach resort, a sprawling new tourist destination on the country’s east coast, as North Korea prepares to reopen its borders for tourism this year. Accompanied by his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, Kim toured the site over the weekend, inspecting hotel rooms, facilities, and beachfront views, reports The Times, UK.
The resort, built over seven years by the North Korean military but delayed by the pandemic, features 7,000 rooms spread across hotels and hostels. Stretching over an area twice the size of Hawaii’s Waikiki Beach, it is slated to open in June and aims to attract tourists primarily from neighboring China and Russia.
During the tour, Kim emphasized North Korea’s political stability and its readiness to develop the tourism industry, describing the project as a significant step toward an “epochal development” of the sector. The Times noted that while the resort is intended to boost North Korea’s tourism economy, it remains unclear how appealing it will be to international visitors given the country’s strict controls, limited interactions with locals, and cooler climate.
Aerial photographs released by state media show a sleek but deserted complex, raising questions about its potential viability. Despite this, some tour operators, including UK-based Koryo Tours, expressed interest, noting that the long-anticipated resort could draw initial curiosity from tourists eager for unique destinations.
China and Russia are expected to be the main sources of visitors, as tensions with South Korea and strict government regulations exclude most other tourists. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to the country in 2023 also underscored the growing ties between Pyongyang and Moscow.
The project reflects Kim’s broader strategy of using tourism to bolster the economy and offset international sanctions. However, experts cited by The Times cautioned that the resort’s appeal could be limited by North Korea’s climate and more attractive options available to Chinese tourists in the region.
