North Korea’s tourism gamble: Kim unveils new resort to lure foreign visitors
Kim Jong-un at the opening ceremony of the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Area on June 24 (Image: KCNA)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presided over the long-delayed grand opening of the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Area on June 24.
After years of construction delays, international sanctions, and isolation brought on by the pandemic, the launch was a rare moment of public celebration in an otherwise secretive and economically strained nation.
The sprawling seaside resort is touted by state media as a “monumental creation of our own style of civilization.”
Situated along the east coast, it boasts high-rise hotels, amusement rides, and expansive beaches.
The opening ceremony featured fireworks, military bands, and performances by youth groups waving party flags in a carefully choreographed spectacle designed to showcase the country’s resilience and project an image of prosperity in defiance of international sanctions.
With tourism one of the few legal sources of foreign currency for North Korea, the regime is eager to tap into the market as a lifeline for an economy that has been crippled by a decade of sanctions linked to its nuclear weapons program.
Kim reportedly declared the resort to be a “leading force in establishing our tourist culture” and emphasized its role in expanding “our style of tourism on a large scale.”
Initially restricted to domestic visitors, the resort began welcoming its first foreign tourists earlier this month. Notably, all were Russians, a reflection of the deepening relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang, especially in the context of the war in Ukraine.
The group of 15 Russian tourists, organized by Vostok Intur travel agency, spent several days touring Pyongyang before staying at the new resort.
They reportedly praised the resort’s amenities, describing their experience as luxurious, with excellent food, attentive service, and unrestricted access to the resort’s nearly three-mile-long beach. One traveler remarked they were “blown away” by the experience.
However, in a sudden reversal just days later, Kim announced a ban on all foreign tourists at the resort.
Although no official reason was given, analysts say it was prompted by a Russian newspaper article suggesting that the supposed local tourists at the resort were, in fact, actors paid by the government to simulate an active tourism scene.
Experts believe the ban is likely to be temporary. Without foreign tourists, the resort will struggle to generate the revenue necessary to stay open. The domestic market offers little promise. The cost of a week-long stay, approximately $1,800, is way out of reach for most citizens in a country where roughly 60% of the population lives below the poverty line.
The resort has also drawn scrutiny from international human rights organizations. A report by the United Nations documented serious abuses during its construction, particularly involving forced labor.
“Those enlisted into the ‘Shock Brigades’ are often required to live on-site for months or years with little or no remuneration,” the report stated. “Women, often the main income earners for families, are particularly impacted by these mobilisations.”
For now, the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Area remains a symbol of North Korea’s contradictory ambitions. It seeks to present itself as a modern, welcoming destination on one hand, while continuing to repress its people and pursue isolationist policies.
Whether the resort can survive as a functioning economic asset, or merely serve as propaganda, remains to be seen.
Maren is a recent graduate of Tufts University, where she earned a B.A. in International Relations and minored in French. She is currently interning with NK Insider through the Oslo Scholars Program, an initiative that connects students and recent graduates with human rights activists around the world.
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