Can tourists visit North Korea's biggest beach resort?
Published June 28th, 2025 - 11:48 GMT
ALBAWABA - North Korean President Kim Jong Un has attended the opening of a new resort that was referred to as a "national treasure-level tourism city". However, who will be able to visit it and can tourists now visit North Korea?
A lavish seaside resort was launched in North Korea and will open its doors to the public on July 1st.
According to the official KCNA news service, the president opened the sprawling Kalma beachside resort with waterparks, high-rise hotels, and accommodation that can host about 20,000 visitors at once.
DPRK opens beach resort exclusively for Russians and localsKim Jong Un inaugurated the Wonsan Kalma resort with his family and Russia's ambassador — calling it a milestone for national tourism
The 5-km complex features hotels, dining, shopping, a water park, and mini-golf https://t.co/isqnMo5b8F pic.twitter.com/7CvfDMguIE — RT (@RT_com) June 26, 2025
The Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, which was opened in a huge ceremony on June 24, is located on North Korea's eastern coast. Local media said "service for domestic guests will begin July 1," however, no other details on eligibility or transportation were shared.
The Kalma beach resort is located near an international airport, which could be a hint that it aims to attract not only locals but also foreign currency, CNN mentioned.
Since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, international tourism in the country has largely been limited to Russian visitors, while strict limitations on domestic travel remain in place. This latest development once again brings to the forefront long-standing concerns around who has access, who the intended audience is, and whether such efforts make economic sense.
"Wonsan-Kalma is open to just North Koreans for now, but we should not be surprised to see Russians at the resort in the not-too-distant future," Rachel Minyoung Lee, a non-resident fellow with the 38 North program at the Stimson Center, said.
© 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Bawaba
6 hours ago
- Al Bawaba
Russian strike kills 2 in Ukraine's Odesa
Published June 28th, 2025 - 02:12 GMT ALBAWABA - A Russian attack on the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa killed two and left 14 others injured, including children, local authorities reported on Saturday. Also Read Russian strike kills 4 Syrians in Odesa, Ukraine Moscow launched drone and missile attacks on Ukraine despite the peace talks mediated by the US to stop the three-year war. "Rescuers pulled the bodies of two people from the rubble who died as a result of a hostile drone strike on a residential building," Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper posted on Telegram. The overnight strike wounded 14 people, Kiper further mentioned, adding that "three of them children." On the other hand, "Russian troops targeted critical and social infrastructure and residential areas in the region," Kherson Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on Saturday. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
Al Bawaba
8 hours ago
- Al Bawaba
Can tourists visit North Korea's biggest beach resort?
Published June 28th, 2025 - 11:48 GMT ALBAWABA - North Korean President Kim Jong Un has attended the opening of a new resort that was referred to as a "national treasure-level tourism city". However, who will be able to visit it and can tourists now visit North Korea? A lavish seaside resort was launched in North Korea and will open its doors to the public on July 1st. According to the official KCNA news service, the president opened the sprawling Kalma beachside resort with waterparks, high-rise hotels, and accommodation that can host about 20,000 visitors at once. DPRK opens beach resort exclusively for Russians and localsKim Jong Un inaugurated the Wonsan Kalma resort with his family and Russia's ambassador — calling it a milestone for national tourism The 5-km complex features hotels, dining, shopping, a water park, and mini-golf — RT (@RT_com) June 26, 2025 The Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, which was opened in a huge ceremony on June 24, is located on North Korea's eastern coast. Local media said "service for domestic guests will begin July 1," however, no other details on eligibility or transportation were shared. The Kalma beach resort is located near an international airport, which could be a hint that it aims to attract not only locals but also foreign currency, CNN mentioned. Since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, international tourism in the country has largely been limited to Russian visitors, while strict limitations on domestic travel remain in place. This latest development once again brings to the forefront long-standing concerns around who has access, who the intended audience is, and whether such efforts make economic sense. "Wonsan-Kalma is open to just North Koreans for now, but we should not be surprised to see Russians at the resort in the not-too-distant future," Rachel Minyoung Lee, a non-resident fellow with the 38 North program at the Stimson Center, said. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
Roya News
2 days ago
- Roya News
Kim Jong Un unveils luxury beach resort in North Korea to boost tourism
North Korea has officially opened the long-delayed Wonsan Kalma coastal resort, a pet project of leader Kim Jong Un, who hopes it will help rejuvenate domestic tourism and potentially attract foreign interest in the future. State media announced that the resort, located along a 4-kilometer stretch of the country's east coast, will begin hosting North Korean tourists starting July 1, six years after its initial scheduled completion. No date has been given for when the site might welcome international visitors. The area of Wonsan holds personal significance for Kim, who spent parts of his youth there and continues to invest in its transformation. Though once the site of missile tests, the town now boasts what state media describes as a modern resort complex with hotels, shopping malls, restaurants, and a water park. Official claims say it can accommodate up to 20,000 people. The resort is being promoted as part of a broader effort to polish the regime's image through grand architectural developments and bolster an economy long crippled by international sanctions tied to North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Despite being one of the world's most isolated and impoverished nations, North Korea has invested heavily in military hardware and monumental construction projects that glorify its ruling dynasty. Some experts see tourism as a rare opportunity for the regime to generate foreign currency. While international visitors are typically limited to tightly controlled group tours, those that do arrive often come from friendly neighbors like China and Russia. North Korea had closed its borders entirely in early 2020 due to COVID-19 and only began easing restrictions midway through 2023. Russian tourists were the first to be readmitted, followed briefly by limited groups from Western countries such as the UK, France, Germany, and Australia earlier this year. However, those permissions were abruptly revoked without explanation. Beard added that while the Wonsan resort might not be attractive to most Western tourists, North Korea's appeal remains strongest in destinations like Pyongyang, the DMZ, and historical or ideological landmarks. Others, like Elliott Davies, director of Uri Tours, argue that North Korea still holds a "niche appeal" for travelers drawn to unconventional experiences. '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. Kim Jong Un celebrated the resort's completion in a high-profile ceremony on June 24, attended by his wife Ri Sol Ju, her first public appearance in months, and daughter Kim Ju Ae. Russia's ambassador to North Korea, Alexander Matsegora, was also present with embassy staff, further highlighting growing ties between Pyongyang and Moscow. Tour operators believe Russian tourists will be among the first foreigners allowed to visit the new facility. The resort's launch comes amid deepening cooperation between North Korea and Russia, including military support and shared defiance of Western sanctions. On the same day the resort opened, the two nations also resumed a direct passenger rail service between their capitals for the first time in five years, a signal of closer coordination and increased movement across borders, at least for selected allies.
