Seoul, July 2 (AP) — North Koreans are indulging in aquatic fun, riding water park slides and embracing other activities at the massive new beach resort, as reported by state media on Wednesday. This comes even as the country continues to heavily restrict the entry of foreign tourists.

The Wonsan-Kalma eastern coastal tourist zone, which North Korea claims can host nearly 20,000 people, stands at the forefront of leader Kim Jong Un’s initiative to bolster tourism as a means to uplift the nation’s faltering economy. Yet, with borders likely to remain closed to Western tourists for the foreseeable future, analysts express skepticism about the long-term prospects of the country’s largest tourism complex.

The Korean Central News Agency stated that the Wonsan-Kalma area kicked off operations on Tuesday, attracting vast numbers of North Koreans who relished open water swimming, waterslides, and numerous other attractions at the water park and the surrounding area.

“Visitors’ hearts were brimming with excitement as they witnessed the remarkable flourishing of our unique tourism culture under the Workers’ Party’s leadership,” KCNA reported in its usual propaganda-laden fashion.

State media images showed children equipped with tubes and inflatable balls enjoying the sea, while others in colorful swimwear smiled beneath red-and-white parasols.

Kim Jong Un remarked during the inaugural event last week that the site would be remembered as “one of the greatest achievements this year,” heralding its opening as “the proud first step” in fulfilling government policies aimed at developing tourism.

Since 2022, North Korea has been gradually reducing the pandemic-induced restrictions and reopening its borders incrementally. However, the country has not clarified if or when it will fully resume international tourism.

Before the pandemic, Chinese group tours comprised more than 90 percent of visitors, but these remain on hold amid uncertainties about diplomatic relations between the two socialist neighbors. In February, North Korea permitted a limited group of international visitors to tour its northeastern border city of Rason, only to suspend the program less than a month later.

Since February 2024, North Korea has been accepting Russian tourists amid growing military ties between the two nations. Nonetheless, Russian government records reviewed by South Korean analysts indicated that only slightly over 2,000 Russians, with a mere 880 classified as tourists, visited North Korea last year, an amount insufficient to rejuvenate the country’s tourism sector.

Last week, Russia’s Primorsky region, which shares a border with North Korea, announced that the first contingent of Russian tourists visiting the Wonsan-Kalma resort is scheduled to depart on July 7 for an eight-day excursion, which includes a stop in Pyongyang. (AP) RD RD

(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

North Korea has opened a sprawling new seaside resort in a bid to revive its tourism sector and draw foreign visitors, state media reported on Wednesday.

The “world-class cultural resort,” located on the country’s eastern coast, officially welcomed domestic tourists on Tuesday, News.Az reports, citing foreign sources.

State-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published rare images of vacationers in swimwear enjoying the beach at the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area, a site South Korean media have dubbed “North Korea’s Waikiki.”

KCNA hailed the project as a shining example of North Korea’s evolving “our-style tourism culture,” claiming visitors were “astonished by the grandeur and splendor” of the resort, which reportedly has the capacity to host nearly 20,000 people.

The coastal resort is believed to be one of leader Kim Jong Un’s pet projects. According to analysts, Kim is placing increasing emphasis on tourism as a means to bring in much-needed foreign currency and improve North Korea’s international image. “This will go down as one of the greatest successes of the year,” Kim reportedly said during an inspection of the site with his wife Ri Sol Ju and daughter Ju Ae.

While the opening currently targets domestic travelers, Pyongyang plans to welcome Russian tourists beginning July 7 as part of an 8-day package tour that includes a visit to the capital. South Korea’s Unification Ministry said the facility is likely to remain small in scale for now due to transportation limitations, estimating around 170 visitors per day.

Though North Korea has long seen tourism as a vital source of foreign currency, the country has been largely closed to visitors since the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to 2020, Chinese nationals made up roughly 90% of foreign tourists, with only about 5,000 Western visitors annually. However, tensions between Beijing and Pyongyang appear to have reduced Chinese tourism activity.

US citizens are currently barred from visiting North Korea following the death of American student Otto Warmbier in 2017. Meanwhile, South Korean tourism has remained frozen since 2008, after a South Korean tourist was fatally shot at Mount Kumgang.

Despite these challenges, North Korea’s new resort signals its renewed ambition to tap into global tourism markets, even as international sanctions and geopolitical isolation continue to limit the country’s outreach.

News.Az

North Korea isn’t typically the first place international travelers think about when considering where to go on vacation. For years, the country has been known for its isolation, heavy restrictions on foreign visitors, and limited tourism infrastructure. However, that hasn’t stopped its leader, Kim Jong Un, from taking steps to change its image. In recent years, state-run North Korean media outlets have highlighted several development projects to showcase a more modern side of the country.

In 2021, Kim announced his plan to build an additional 50,000 apartments in Pyongyang. Then, in March 2025, he unveiled a new 10,000-apartment development in the capital city, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). One of the newest developments debuted late last month: a humongous beach resort along the country’s eastern coastline. Though few details have been shared publicly, it’s beginning to attract attention worldwide. Here is a closer look at North Korea’s Wonsan-Kalma beach resort and what it means for future tourism in the region.

North Korea Has Unveiled Its New Wonsan-Kalma Beach Resort

North Korea’s most recent development is the newly opened Wonsan-Kalma beach resort, located just over two hours east of Pyongyang. This large-scale complex, designed to accommodate up to 20,000 visitors, features a variety of amenities, including open-water swimming areas, aquatic attractions, and several restaurants.

The resort, considered the largest tourism complex in North Korea, held its official opening ceremony on June 24. State media released images of the event, and they’re much different from the depictions of Mangyongdae Funfair, a much older theme park known as North Korea’s failed version of Disneyland. These images show North Korean citizens floating in the ocean on inflatable tubes and racing down colorful waterslides.

According to KCNA, Wonsan-Kalma was built to help boost tourism and showcase the country’s development and modernization efforts.

“The transformation of the Wonsan Kalma area, a great auspicious event of the whole country, is a brilliant fruition of the profound thinking and inexhaustible efforts of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un… It is also a prelude to a new era of our country’s tourism that was ushered in by the great spirit of service of the Workers’ Party of Korea,” KCNA reported.

KCNA also reported that leader Kim Jong Un was pleased with the resort’s outcome, describing it as “one of the greatest successes this year” that will serve as “the proud first step” in advancing the country’s tourism sector. While domestic visitors were the first to experience the new beach resort on July 1, reports suggest that Kim has broader plans. Despite the current restrictions on international travel, the project appears to be part of a longer-term effort to attract foreign tourists in the future.

Related North Korea Banned Tourists Again Just Two Weeks After Reopening Borders Since COVID-19 What caused North Korea to close again immediately after letting the first tourists back in?

Tourism In North Korea Has Remained Minimal And Highly Regulated

Denis Kabelev | Dreamstime.com A North Korean Air Koryo aircraft landing in Vladivostok, Russia.

North Korea has always maintained tight control over tourism, only allowing guided group tours through approved agencies and requiring constant supervision by government-appointed guides. Visitors are also restricted in where they can go, what they can photograph, and who they can speak to. These tight regulations have made North Korea one of the world’s most mysterious and least-visited countries.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, North Korea has remained largely closed off to foreign tourists. According to a TikTok video by BBC News, the country reopened to Western countries for visits to the remote city of Rason in early 2025. However, it closed again just two weeks later, a China-based North Korean tour company, KTG Tours, confirmed on Facebook.

Now, Russian tourists are expected to be the first foreigners to visit the newly opened Wonsan-Kalma beach resort. In 2019, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) reported that 3,144 Russian citizens visited North Korea in 2019. However, according to a study conducted by The Henry Jackson Society’s Asia Studies Centre, hundreds of thousands of Chinese tourists visited that same year. The fact that Russia, compared to China, has historically sent far fewer tourists to North Korea makes this a surprising decision for a country with hopes of reviving its tourism industry.

In a press release from Russia’s Primorsky region, which shares a border with the notoriously closed-off country, government officials shared that visitors are scheduled to arrive at the resort on July 7 as part of an organized eight-day tour. While the trip is a big step for North Korea in terms of reopening to foreign tourists, it raises many questions about its long-term strategy.

Ever fancied a relaxing stay on the sunny Korean Peninsula? Well, now’s your chance: Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un has just unveiled a luxury tourist destination for the ultimate tranquil getaway.

The enticingly titled Wonsan Kalma beach resort can comfortably accommodate nearly 20,000 visitors who can frolic in the ocean, enjoy various sporting activities, and dine out at one of the many cafeterias and restaurants on site.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae watch a person sliding down a slide during a ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, in Wonsan, North Korea, June 24, 2025. / KCNA / via REUTERS

Kim cut the ribbon on the new tourist zone on Thursday, describing it as “one of the greatest successes this year.” North Korean state media hailed it as a “national treasure-level tourism city.”

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There’s only one problem: hardly anyone visits North Korea. Entry and exit from the isolated country has been tightly controlled by the North Korean government since the establishment of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in 1948. Some estimates suggest roughly 5,000 Westerners—including 800 Americans—visit the nation every year, although figures for Chinese tourists, who make up 90 to 95 percent of all visitors, are as high as 350,000 annually.

In recent years, however, North Korea has been under strict lockdown following the COVID-19 pandemic. Until February of this year, no Western tourists had visited the country since 2020.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae stand on a balcony facing the beach during a ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, in Wonsan, in North Korea, June 24, 2025. / KCNA / via REUTERS

Tourism to the DPRK is dangerous and not recommended. “I think you’d almost have to be a lunatic to be an American and to roll out there,” one American tourist said in 2017. His visit to the country came just prior to the death of Otto Warmbier, an American who died from a brain injury after being detained in North Korea for attempting to smuggle a propaganda poster out.

North Korea has, however, been looking to boost its tourism offerings in an effort to revitalize its ailing economy. After decades of sustained embargo, Kim said the opening of Wonsan Kalma would be a “proud first step” in bringing to life the government’s vision of a thriving tourism market.

The government has yet to say when the country will start opening up for foreign tourists, but domestic guests can begin their holidays at the resort on July 1.

North Korea Unveils Stunning Wonsan Kalma Beach resort as It Targets a Bold Tourism Revival

North Korea has officially opened the stunning Wonsan Kalma Beach Resort in a massive bid to revive its dormant tourism sector and reimagine its global reputation. Situated on North Korea’s picturesque eastern shore, the super-modern beach complex opens to North Korean citizens on July 1 and may soon be visited by Russians as part of Pyongyang’s cautious but carefully managed return to the international travel circuit. With vast beaches, classy hotels, and leisure activities such as a water park, the resort is a risky investment aimed at boosting foreign revenues and showcasing the regime’s capability to create world-class tourism despite decades of isolation and sanctions.

North Korea has taken a significant step toward revitalizing its economy by opening the long-awaited Wonsan Kalma coastal resort. Situated along the country’s eastern shoreline, this ambitious project aims to welcome North Korean citizens beginning July 1, with signs pointing toward potential access for Russian tourists shortly thereafter. As the secretive state cautiously reopens its borders post-pandemic, the resort marks a rare public display of investment in leisure tourism.

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The Wonsan Kalma project, which was originally slated to open in 2019, forms a central part of North Korea’s larger ambition to become a player in the global tourism arena. According to state media, the resort spans a vast beachfront and is capable of hosting approximately twenty thousand guests at a time. It features a variety of attractions, including a water park, recreational areas, and multiple hotel accommodations.

Though independent verification of the site’s facilities remains limited, especially given North Korea’s strict media control, official photos and reports indicate an extensive layout designed to resemble other modern Asian beachside destinations. Visitors will reportedly be able to dine, shop, and engage in leisure activities along the resort’s scenic coastal strip.

Exclusive Domestic Opening Followed by Potential Russian Access

While the initial phase of the resort’s operations is strictly limited to North Korean nationals, news agencies have reported that Russian tourists could begin accessing the site as soon as July 7. This tentative move suggests the regime may be testing the waters for broader international tourism, using neighboring Russia as an early partner in its tourism pilot program.

North Korea’s borders were tightly sealed during the COVID-19 pandemic, halting all international tourism. Although small signs of reopening have emerged, access remains restricted. The reported plan to welcome Russians marks the first significant indication that Pyongyang may be considering selective international tourism again.

There is no confirmed timeline for when citizens from other countries might be allowed to enter. Still, tourism experts speculate that further developments could hinge on the success of the initial domestic phase and diplomatic negotiations with select allied nations.

Tourism as Economic Strategy Amid Isolation

North Korea’s push into tourism is seen by analysts as a strategic attempt to diversify its economy, which has long been reliant on a mix of resource exports and illicit trade. International sanctions, diplomatic isolation, and recent global health challenges have made economic diversification a pressing necessity for Pyongyang.

Tourism offers a potentially lucrative revenue stream that allows for controlled engagement with the outside world. By promoting high-end leisure projects like Wonsan Kalma, the country is aiming to attract visitors without sacrificing political or ideological control. The resort also serves as a symbol of national pride and progress, reinforcing internal narratives of development.

Kim Jong Un has described the resort’s completion as one of the country’s most significant achievements of the year. According to official statements, he believes the coastal complex will set a precedent for establishing a “tourist culture” in the nation. It’s also expected to elevate North Korea’s image as a potential destination on the global tourism map—albeit one that remains heavily restricted.

Luxury Destination or Symbolic Display?

While the launch has generated significant buzz, analysts are split on whether the project will deliver meaningful benefits or merely serve symbolic purposes. With much of the population facing economic hardship, the immediate benefit of such luxury developments remains questionable. Critics argue that the resort may be more about optics and international image-building than genuine economic revitalization.

Nevertheless, Wonsan Kalma’s strategic location has long been associated with the country’s elite. Wonsan is known to house high-ranking officials and affluent individuals, which raises questions about who will truly have access to the new facilities.

State media, however, continues to paint a picture of inclusivity and opportunity. Officials suggest that the site will welcome a range of North Korean citizens, providing them with rare leisure opportunities within their own country.

A Cautious Return to Global Engagement

North Korea’s decision to potentially allow Russian tourists to Wonsan Kalma can be interpreted as a calculated step toward reopening its doors to the international community. In the wake of pandemic-related closures and geopolitical tensions, the move could serve as a low-risk trial of its tourism protocols.

Travel agencies that previously facilitated tours to North Korea—such as Young Pioneer Tours—have expressed both hope and skepticism. While some praise the development as a positive move, others suggest that signature locations like Pyongyang, the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), and historical communist sites are likely to remain the focal point of most international itineraries, at least in the early stages of broader tourism resumption.

Travel Warnings and Ongoing Restrictions

Despite the fanfare surrounding Wonsan Kalma, major hurdles remain for prospective travelers, especially from Western countries. The United States continues to list North Korea as a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” destination, warning citizens of the serious risks involved in traveling to the country. U.S. passports are generally invalid for entry into North Korea without special authorization, which is rarely granted.

The State Department cites a range of concerns, including the risk of arbitrary detention, lack of diplomatic protection, and potential for wrongful imprisonment. These realities present significant challenges for expanding tourism beyond a handful of strategically chosen partners.

As a result, even as North Korea takes visible steps to market itself as a vacation destination, these travel restrictions will limit its immediate appeal on the global stage. For now, access remains a privilege tightly controlled by the regime and extended selectively, based on political considerations.

The Role of Soft Power and Cultural Diplomacy

The unveiling of Wonsan Kalma is more than an economic move—it’s a form of cultural diplomacy. By showcasing images of beaches, waterslides, and leisure infrastructure, the North Korean government aims to reshape international perceptions. The image of modernity and openness, even if limited and curated, serves a dual purpose: improving national morale and signaling strategic readiness for gradual reintegration with the global tourism market.

The inclusion of foreign diplomats at the opening ceremony further supports this idea. While attendance was limited and heavily managed, it conveyed a message of international participation and goodwill, if only symbolic.

What Wonsan Kalma Could Mean for the Future

As North Korea opens Wonsan Kalma to domestic travelers and potentially to Russian tourists, the world is watching closely. This project represents more than a new coastal destination—it symbolizes a cautious yet deliberate attempt by Pyongyang to diversify its global engagement strategy through tourism.

If successful, the resort could pave the way for a tiered tourism model, where select allies gain initial access, followed by broader international entry down the line. The next few months will be critical in assessing how the regime manages the logistics, security, and messaging of this tourism experiment.

The launch of the Wonsan Kalma beach resort marks a pivotal moment in North Korea’s tourism aspirations. While it remains largely a domestic initiative for now, the possibility of expanding access to Russian nationals signals the beginning of a broader, albeit slow-moving, plan to welcome foreign tourists.

Challenges persist—from diplomatic restrictions and safety concerns to limited infrastructure and media opacity. Still, the country’s leadership views tourism as a viable avenue for showcasing development, attracting foreign revenue, and potentially altering its standing in global affairs.

North Korea has now opened the picturesque Wonsan Kalma Beach Resort as part of a grand resurgence of its tourism industry, and it aims to attract both domestic tourists and few foreign tourists to its beaches. The high-profile launch is a carefully laid effort to generate revenue and redefine the country’s foreign image via seacoast luxury tourism.

Whether Wonsan Kalma becomes a true catalyst for change or simply a symbolic project for domestic consumption remains to be seen. But in a nation known for its seclusion, even a tentative opening like this one is a noteworthy development.

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