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.