N. Korea to Launch Its Largest-Ever Coastal Resort

North Korea is set to unveil its most ambitious tourism project to date next week with the opening of the Wonsan-Kalma coastal resort.

Positioned as a transformative milestone for the country’s tourism industry, the new site will initially cater to domestic visitors, though no timeline has been provided for the full reopening of the country to international tourists.

The Wonsan-Kalma resort, located on the east coast of North Korea, features accommodation and facilities capable of hosting up to 20,000 guests. It offers a range of leisure activities including swimming, sports, and dining at a variety of on-site restaurants and cafes.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un officially inaugurated the resort on Tuesday in a grand ceremony, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Kim reportedly described the project as one of the regime’s greatest achievements of the year and called it a proud first step toward fulfilling the government’s tourism development agenda.

KCNA labelled the Wonsan-Kalma complex as North Korea’s largest-ever tourist resort and confirmed it will open to domestic visitors starting Tuesday. However, no date has been announced for when foreign tourists might be welcomed back.

The opening of the resort is part of Kim’s broader push to revitalize the country’s struggling economy by turning North Korea into a viable tourist destination.

The Wonsan-Kalma zone is among several high-profile tourism projects the regime has announced in recent years. KCNA also reported that more large-scale tourist developments are planned across the country.

Despite the grand opening, North Korea has yet to lift the ban on foreign tourists that has been in place since early 2020, when it imposed strict border controls due to the COVID-19 pandemic.