Tourism North Korea ready to open its first beach resort with Kim betting on tourism

[Social Media]

 

After years of delays, North Korea is set to open its ambitious Wonsan Kalma beach resort to domestic tourists on July 1st, state media reported, in what leader Kim Jong Un hopes will mark the beginning of a new tourism-driven chapter for the isolated regime. The long-promised complex, spanning 4 kilometers of the country’s eastern coastline, has been six years in the making. Although it was originally slated for completion in 2019, the project faced construction setbacks and was further delayed by the pandemic.

 

 

The extravagant resort, which Kim attended a ceremony to inaugurate on June 24, features hotels, restaurants, a water park, and shopping malls, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). It is said to be able to accommodate up to 20,000 visitors, though none of these claims can be independently verified. Kim, joined at the event by his daughter Kim Ju Ae and wife Ri Sol Ju—who was making her first public appearance since a New Year’s Day event—framed the resort’s completion as a “great, auspicious event of the whole country” and a “prelude to the new era” in tourism.

 

Kim has a personal connection to the area. He spent part of his youth in Wonsan, a town where many members of the North Korean elite have coastal villas. The resort is located on the site of a former missile testing ground—another example of Kim’s pattern of converting symbols of military strength into showcases of regime modernization. Still, some see it as little more than a glitzy distraction from the nation’s stark economic reality.

 

North Korea remains one of the most heavily sanctioned countries in the world, largely due to its nuclear weapons program. With most of its resources dedicated to military projects and grand monuments glorifying the Kim dynasty, the average North Korean continues to live in deep poverty. Observers say the resort may be more of a financial lifeline than a genuine economic opening.

 

“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 nation’s borders were sealed in early 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, and it wasn’t until mid-2023 that North Korea began loosening restrictions. Russian tourists were welcomed later that year, and in February 2024, small groups from countries like the UK, France, Germany, and Australia briefly crossed into the country from China. However, the regime suddenly halted those visits within weeks, offering no explanation.

 

Tour operators remain skeptical about the resort’s broader appeal. “It is unlikely to be a major draw for most Western tourists,” Beard noted, adding that visitors to North Korea typically prioritize politically iconic sites like Pyongyang, the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), and examples of socialist architecture and culture.

 

Still, the unusual nature of a North Korean beach resort may offer some niche appeal. “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 Wonsan resort may serve as a symbolic gesture more than a genuine policy shift. But with Russian ambassador Alexander Matsegora and his embassy staff present at the opening, it’s clear which direction the regime is looking in terms of future guests. For now, Wonsan stands not just as a monument to Kim’s vision of tourism, but also as a reminder of how deeply North Korea’s fortunes remain tied to politics and propaganda.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC  2025-06-27

 

 

 

[SAFETY FIRST]

12 minutes ago, Social Media said:

North Korea

beach resort with Kim betting on tourism

Great news, maybe they can take some of our weirdo tourists, so many here now.

 

Kim, you are welcome to have the ones with mental health issues, if they misbehave, can I suggest, firing squad.

 

 

[JonnyF]

3 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Great news, maybe they can take some of our weirdo tourists, so many here now.

 

Kim, you are welcome to have the ones with mental health issues, if they misbehave, can I suggest, firing squad.

 

 

 

Firing squad might be a decent result when compared to what happened to Otto Warmbier.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66236989

 

I think I'll stick to the Costa Del Sol. 

[BritManToo]

Interesting his wife is named "R. Sol".

Can I smoke cannabis while visiting the resort?

[spidermike007]

I'm sure people will be lined up knowing that if they miss a bin with a piece of litter they'll be put before a firing squad or locked up in prison for 50 years, that's a real tourist draw. Also having state police watching your every move is also incredibly appealing. Expect 95 tourists, Kim. 

[Suetape]

Bring your own TP. 

[BusyB]

Can hardly wait. Does Star Alliance operate to Pyongyang?

 

Don't those three Kims at the water slides look like a whole bunch of fun? Awful. Picture says it all.