Report North Korea Shuts Doors to Foreign Tourists at New Seaside Haven

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North Korea has surprised the world by closing its brand-new seaside resort to foreign tourists, mere weeks after its grand opening. The Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, which swung open its doors on 1 July, was heralded as a centrepiece of Kim Jong Un’s strategy to bolster tourism. But suddenly, a notice on the regime’s tourism website has declared foreigners "temporarily" unwelcome.

 

Only last week, the first Russian tourists were reportedly savouring the new attraction around the time Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with Kim Jong Un. Lavrov praised the seaside site as a "good tourist attraction" and expressed his hopes that it would draw Russian travellers. Russian and North Korean officials are planning to initiate direct flights between Moscow and Pyongyang by the end of the month.

 

Future Russian tourism plans to Wonsan have been put on hold, according to a tour guide speaking to NK News, revealing several trips were initially on the cards. Wonsan, located along North Korea’s east coast, is historically significant, housing not only missile facilities but also recalling Kim Jong Un's early years spent amidst luxurious holiday homes.

 

The resort spans 4km of stunning beachfront, brimming with hotels, eateries, shopping areas, and a water park, accommodating up to 20,000 guests. State media had been celebrating its potential to attract tourists from abroad, alongside locals. However, human rights organisations have criticised the resort's development, highlighting reports that workers endured gruelling conditions and insufficient pay during its construction, which began in 2018.

 

Russian ambassadors joined Kim Jong Un and his family at a completion ceremony on 24 June. This marked the first sign of North Korea welcoming foreign tourists since the pandemic, as it invited Russians back after a lengthy halt in tourism.

 

Earlier this year, in February, North Korea began accepting tourists from Western countries, including visitors from Australia, France, Germany, and the UK. However, the initiative was short-lived as North Korea abruptly stopped allowing tourists, offering no clarification for the sudden closure.

 

While the exact reasons for the latest move remain unclear, it underscores North Korea’s unpredictable approach to foreign tourism. As eager travellers wait for developments, North Korea's shuttered resort now stands as a testament to ambition tempered by secrecy.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from CNN 2025-07-22

 

 

[newbee2022]

It's a pity. I just wanted to book a flight.😂