North Korea's top leader Kim Jong Un reported Thursday that Thursday, according to a new beach resort officially opened in the country's Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area – nearly six years later.
Located on North Korea's east coast, the large tourist area is part of a key project for Kim Jong Un to promote tourism for many years in the infamous exclusive country.
In this photo, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, second-right, left his daughter, cut the first videotape at the ending ceremony in North Korea on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at the North Korean coastal tourist area.
Korea Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP
South Korea's Central News Agency (KCNA) said Kim Jong Il attended the inauguration ceremony of the Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area with “very satisfied”, adding that the resort can accommodate about 20,000 tourists and that more large tourist zones will be built quickly in the country.
According to the State News Agency, the tourist area offers sunbathing facilities on four kilometers of beaches, as well as a variety of sports, entertainment, commercial and public catering services as well as a variety of accommodations throughout the year.
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The area has long been a resort for locals, but Kim wants to transform it into a huge billion-dollar tourist spot inspired by “Korean-style travel.”
“When Kim Jong-un arrived, the storm of 'Hurray!' cheered! KCNA reported.
North Korea's tourism industry is not an industry targeted by UN sanctions, but the elusive country has not worked with any foreign partners to develop the Wonsan project due to economic sanctions on its nuclear weapons program.
North Korea is one of the poorest countries in the world, and has been run by the Kim family since 1948, which incorporates most of the isolated state capitals into the military, national monuments and landmarks of the country's capital, Pyongyang.
KCNA confirmed that the new beach resort will be open to domestic tourists on July 1, but no mention of allowing international tourists.
North Korea closed its borders at the beginning of 2020, but has been slowly lifting restrictions since 2023, allowing Russian tourists the following year.
Russian tourism groups have been allowed to enter North Korea, but their capital is usually not subject to the closure of regular tourism, although in April it hosted a marathon with foreign participants.
Kkkana said the Russian ambassador to North Korea and embassy staff attended with special guests at the opening ceremony of the beach resort.
Russia and North Korea are developing tourism with the two countries since 2020 and have restarted direct commuter train services between its capitals Moscow and Pyongyang.
– Reuters' documents
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