North Korea Inaugurates Wonsan Kalma Coastal Resort with National Ceremony
H-Tayea
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) inaugurated the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area on June 24 with a large-scale ceremony attended by top government and Party officials, including DPRK leader Kim Jong Un.
Located on the scenic Kalma Peninsula along North Korea's east coast, the resort features hundreds of newly constructed buildings designed to host up to 20,000 guests. The development includes multiple hotels, a water park, cultural and entertainment venues, and a four-kilometer stretch of beachfront, reflecting the regime's push to boost tourism and present a modernized image.
In his inaugural speech, DPRK Premier Pak Thae Song praised the project as a 'monument to the people-first ideology' of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and a symbol of the country's "creative and vigorous executive abilities." He credited Kim Jong Un's vision and direct oversight for the resort's completion, highlighting its significance in the Party's broader policy of cultural and economic revitalization.
Kim Jong Un cut the ceremonial ribbon and toured the new facilities, expressing satisfaction at the realization of a long-cherished project aimed at providing leisure and comfort to the North Korean people. He described the resort as a model for future tourism development and emphasized the importance of delivering a high-quality experience to both domestic and, potentially, foreign visitors.
Set to open to North Korean tourists on July 1, the Wonsan Kalma resort is positioned as a flagship development in the country's bid to strengthen its tourism sector, with further projects to be announced at the upcoming Ninth Congress of the WPK.
Foreign dignitaries, including the Russian ambassador and embassy staff, were in attendance at the event, which concluded with a fireworks display and artistic performances celebrating the opening of what officials described as a 'world-class coastal resort.'
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