North Korea’s Wonsan-Kalma Beach Resort: A New Chapter in Tourism

In a surprising move, North Korea has unveiled the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, a sprawling beach resort on its east coast, opened on July 1, 2025, after years of delays. Touted by state media as a “world-class cultural resort” and a “great feat” by leader Kim Jong Un, this ambitious project aims to boost tourism in one of the world’s most secretive nations. But with international sanctions, limited foreign access, and a tightly controlled domestic environment, what does this resort mean for North Korea’s future? Let’s dive into the details of this intriguing development.

The Wonsan-Kalma Resort: A Glimpse of Luxury

Located on a 4km (2.5-mile) stretch of beach in Wonsan, the resort is designed to accommodate up to 20,000 visitors. According to North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the complex boasts:

- 54 high-rise hotels (though reports suggest only six are fully completed).

- Water parks with slides and recreational facilities

- Restaurants, shopping malls, and beer pubs

- Cultural amenities like a cinema and concert hall

- A new train station and proximity to an international airport for accessibility

Kim Jong Un, who personally cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony on June 24, 2025, called it “the proud first step” toward expanding North Korea’s tourism sector. The resort, a pet project of Kim’s, transforms a former missile testing site into a symbol of leisure and progress, with South Korean media dubbing it “North Korea’s Waikiki.”

A Tourism Push Amid Isolation

North Korea’s economy has long been crippled by international sanctions due to its nuclear weapons program, making tourism one of the few legal avenues for generating foreign currency. The Wonsan-Kalma project, initiated in 2014 and started in 2018, faced setbacks from construction delays and the COVID-19 pandemic, which closed the country’s borders in 2020. Now, with borders cautiously reopening, the resort is initially open to domestic tourists, likely targeting Pyongyang’s elite, such as party officials and high-ranking figures.

Foreign access remains limited. Russian tourists, bolstered by a 2024 mutual defense treaty between Pyongyang and Moscow, are the first expected international visitors, with tours starting July 7, 2025. A Vladivostok-based agency, Vostok Intur, offers an eight-day package including four nights at the resort, a visit to the Masikryong Ski Resort, and sightseeing in Pyongyang, priced at around $1,840. However, Chinese tourists, who once made up 90% of North Korea’s visitors, are not yet returning in large numbers, possibly due to strained relations with Beijing.

Kim’s Vision: Propaganda or Economic Strategy?

Kim Jong Un’s personal investment in the project is evident. He visited the site at least seven times, offering “on-the-spot guidance” to ensure “world-class” standards. Accompanied by his wife, Ri Sol Ju, and daughter, Kim Ju Ae (widely seen as his likely successor), the opening ceremony was a family affair, signaling its importance to the regime’s legacy. KCNA described it as a “great, auspicious event” and a “prelude to a new era” in tourism, aligning with Kim’s narrative of economic prosperity and cultural advancement.

Yet, skepticism abounds. Analysts argue the resort serves as propaganda to showcase Kim’s “people-first” policy while balancing his focus on military ambitions. Wonsan itself was a missile testing site as recently as May 2025. The project’s scale, with an estimated massive investment from North Korea’s limited budget, raises questions about economic feasibility, especially with only 170 daily visitors expected due to transportation constraints. Critics also note that the resort’s unfinished hotels and unverifiable claims about its amenities reflect the regime’s tendency to prioritise image over functionality.

Who Will Visit?

For now, the resort caters to North Korea’s privileged domestic elite, as international tourism remains tightly controlled. Russian tourists are a strategic choice, given the strengthening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow, but their numbers are small. Fewer than 900 visited in 2024. Western tourists face significant barriers, with the U.S. banning travel to North Korea since the 2017 death of Otto Warmbier, and South Korean visits halted since 2008. The resort’s success may hinge on attracting Chinese tourists again, but geopolitical tensions and poor infrastructure could limit its appeal.

What’s Next for North Korea’s Tourism Ambitions?

Kim Jong Un has vowed to build more large-scale tourist zones, with plans to be formalised at the ruling party’s next congress. The resort’s opening signals North Korea’s intent to cautiously re-enter the global tourism market, but challenges remain:

- Sanctions limit foreign investment and resources.

- Infrastructure issues, like limited transportation, hinder accessibility.

- Geopolitical risks and heavy surveillance deter Western visitors.

- Economic disparity contrasts the resort’s luxury with widespread poverty in North Korea.

The Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone is a bold statement from Kim Jong Un, blending propaganda, economic ambition, and a nod to global tourism trends. While it may dazzle with water slides and beachfront views, its success depends on North Korea’s ability to open its borders and navigate international relations. For now, it remains a curious experiment. A “world-class” resort in a nation where freedom of movement and information is scarce. Will it become a thriving destination or a fleeting symbol of the regime’s aspirations? Only time will tell. Photos: The Straits Times & BBC News