North Korea is set to open the long-delayed Wonsan-Kalma beach resort on July 1, with leader Kim Jong Un hailing the development as a cornerstone of his strategy to expand tourism in the deeply isolated country. According to state media KCNA, the resort will initially welcome domestic tourists, though there is no timeline yet for foreign arrivals.
The coastal complex, built on a 4-kilometre stretch of beach on the east coast, was first slated to open in 2019. It features hotels, restaurants, malls and a water park, all intended to accommodate up to 20,000 visitors, according to North Korean media. These claims, however, remain independently unverified.
Kim, who reportedly spent part of his youth in Wonsan, has been attempting to transform the city, once a missile testing hub, into a showcase for luxury and development. He attended the resort’s completion ceremony on June 24, accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju Ae and wife Ri Sol Ju, who made her first public appearance since a New Year’s Day event. Russian ambassador Alexander Matsegora and other embassy staff were also present.
State outlet KCNA described the opening as a “great, auspicious event of the whole country” and “a prelude to the new era” in tourism.
While North Korea remains one of the most sanctioned and impoverished countries in the world, tourism is one of the few avenues available for generating foreign revenue. Analysts believe the regime is looking to capitalise on its limited tourism market, largely comprising visitors from China and Russia. Westerners, though technically allowed in, typically arrive through curated tour groups and have limited access to the country.
“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 pandemic severely curtailed foreign tourism, with the country closing its borders in early 2020 and only partially reopening to Russian tourists in 2024. A brief window in February 2025 allowed small numbers of Western tourists from the UK, France, Germany and Australia to enter, but this was abruptly halted weeks later without explanation.
Beard expressed scepticism about the resort’s broader appeal. “It is unlikely to be a major draw for most Western tourists,” he said. “Key sites like Pyongyang, the DMZ, and other brutalist or communist landmarks will continue to be the main highlights for international visitors once broader tourism resumes.”
However, some believe the project offers unique travel intrigue. “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 timing of the resort’s opening also coincides with closer ties between North Korea and Russia. The two nations recently resumed a direct passenger train route between their capitals after a five-year suspension due to the pandemic. Analysts expect that Russian nationals may be among the first foreign visitors to Wonsan, as Moscow and Pyongyang deepen their cooperation.
North Korea has also reportedly sent troops to aid Russia in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, further underscoring the growing strategic alignment between the two isolated states.
The coastal complex, built on a 4-kilometre stretch of beach on the east coast, was first slated to open in 2019. It features hotels, restaurants, malls and a water park, all intended to accommodate up to 20,000 visitors, according to North Korean media. These claims, however, remain independently unverified.
Kim, who reportedly spent part of his youth in Wonsan, has been attempting to transform the city, once a missile testing hub, into a showcase for luxury and development. He attended the resort’s completion ceremony on June 24, accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju Ae and wife Ri Sol Ju, who made her first public appearance since a New Year’s Day event. Russian ambassador Alexander Matsegora and other embassy staff were also present.
State outlet KCNA described the opening as a “great, auspicious event of the whole country” and “a prelude to the new era” in tourism.
While North Korea remains one of the most sanctioned and impoverished countries in the world, tourism is one of the few avenues available for generating foreign revenue. Analysts believe the regime is looking to capitalise on its limited tourism market, largely comprising visitors from China and Russia. Westerners, though technically allowed in, typically arrive through curated tour groups and have limited access to the country.
“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 pandemic severely curtailed foreign tourism, with the country closing its borders in early 2020 and only partially reopening to Russian tourists in 2024. A brief window in February 2025 allowed small numbers of Western tourists from the UK, France, Germany and Australia to enter, but this was abruptly halted weeks later without explanation.
Beard expressed scepticism about the resort’s broader appeal. “It is unlikely to be a major draw for most Western tourists,” he said. “Key sites like Pyongyang, the DMZ, and other brutalist or communist landmarks will continue to be the main highlights for international visitors once broader tourism resumes.”
However, some believe the project offers unique travel intrigue. “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 timing of the resort’s opening also coincides with closer ties between North Korea and Russia. The two nations recently resumed a direct passenger train route between their capitals after a five-year suspension due to the pandemic. Analysts expect that Russian nationals may be among the first foreign visitors to Wonsan, as Moscow and Pyongyang deepen their cooperation.
North Korea has also reportedly sent troops to aid Russia in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, further underscoring the growing strategic alignment between the two isolated states.
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