North Korea set to open sprawling new tourist site in push to revive economy


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Summary

Tourism push

North Korea is scheduled to open a new sprawling tourist site as it aims to revive its failing economy, but has yet to reveal when restrictions on international tourism will be lifted.

Grand opening

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited the site on Tuesday as part of its ceremonial opening and before its official opening to visitors on Tuesday, July 1.

Touted achievement

Kim called the new tourist spot “one of the greatest successes of the year” and believes it is the first step to reviving the country’s tourism industry.


Full story

North Korea is preparing to open a sprawling new tourist site to visitors on its east coast, touting it as the start of a new era in its tourism industry. The project comes amid a push to revive the nation’s struggling economy. However, North Korea has yet to announce when it will fully reopen its borders to international visitors. 

What can guests expect?

The Wonsan-Kalma coastal tourist zone features hotels, recreational facilities and dining options designed to accommodate up to 20,000 guests. Visitors can enjoy swimming, sports activities and meals at on-site restaurants and cafeterias, according to North Korean state media

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North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un personally attended the opening ceremony at the resort on Tuesday, June 24, cutting the ceremonial red ribbon. However, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) didn’t report the event until Thursday, June 26. Kim hailed the completion of the tourist attraction as “one of the greatest successes this year” and said it is “the proud first step” toward achieving a flourishing tourism industry. 

Accepting visitors next week

KCNA reported that the Wonsan-Kalma resort will begin serving domestic tourists on Tuesday, July 1, but officials have not disclosed when it will open to international tourists.

Kim has been advocating for a tourism site as part of his country’s efforts to revitalize its economy. The Wonsan-Kalma zone ranks among his most anticipated tourism projects, and North Korea plans to announce additional large-scale tourist developments in other regions.

Restrictions remain for foreign visitors

Despite the resort’s opening, North Korea has yet to fully lift travel restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to block most foreign tourists.

Beginning in February 2024, North Korea began accepting Russian visitors as part of growing military and economic ties. However, North Korea continues to bar most Chinese tourists — who reportedly made up over 90% of foreign visitors before the pandemic — from entering the country.

So far, officials have allowed only a small group of international visitors to enter. In February, a Chinese tour group visited for the first time in five years, but tour agencies suspended those visits again in March.

Jason Morrell (Morning Managing Editor), Shianne DeLeon (Video Editor), and Devin Pavlou (Digital Producer) contributed to this report.
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Why this story matters

North Korea's opening of the Wonsan-Kalma coastal tourist zone marks an effort to boost its struggling economy and signals potential changes in its approach to tourism and international engagement.

Economic revival

The development of the new tourist site reflects North Korea's push to stimulate its weak economy through tourism initiatives.

Border restrictions

Ongoing limitations on international visitors, as explained by North Korean state media, show that despite new tourism infrastructure, foreign access remains highly restricted.

Leadership and image

Kim Jong Un's prominent role in launching the resort underlines the leadership's focus on promoting national achievements and shaping North Korea's external image.

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Context corner

Historically, North Korea has promoted controlled tourism as a revenue source not targeted by sanctions. Wonsan, a city with personal significance for Kim Jong Un, has featured prominently in state-led development narratives. The country’s broader international isolation and sanctions regimes shape both the scope and presentation of tourism initiatives.

Global impact

The project highlights growing North Korea–Russia cooperation, including plans for direct train service, reflecting both countries’ political and economic isolation from much of the international community. Its limited opening to Russian tourists demonstrates how North Korea’s economic policies and diplomatic relations can influence access within global tourism networks.

Oppo research

Opponents and some analysts highlight North Korea’s economic hardships and argue that resort investments channel much-needed resources away from public welfare. There is also skepticism about whether the government can attract sufficient foreign tourists amid ongoing global sanctions and internal limitations on free movement for domestic guests.

Bias comparison

  • Media outlets on the left emphasize North Korea’s tourism drive as a risky economic gamble amid sanctions and isolation, using skeptical language like “bets” and “tourism hopes” that highlight its ailing economy and strained China ties.
  • Not enough unique coverage from media outlets in the center to provide a bias comparison.
  • Media outlets on the right downplay geopolitical complexities, focusing on the resort’s development as a showcase of North Korean modernization with neutral or subtly positive tones like “brilliant reality,” omitting detailed pandemic or diplomatic context.

Media landscape

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Key points from the Left

  • North Korea will open a tourist site on its east coast next week, which it called a prelude to a new era in its tourism industry.
  • The Wonsan-Kalma coastal tourist zone will have accommodations for nearly 20,000 guests and various recreational activities, as reported by state media.
  • At a ceremony, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un cut the inaugural tape and described the site as a key step in developing tourism.
  • Despite the opening, North Korea has not lifted travel curbs for foreign tourists imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Key points from the Center

  • On June 24, North Korea officially unveiled a major new coastal resort in Wonsan-Kalma with a grand ceremony attended by Kim Jong Un.
  • Development plans for Wonsan started in 2014 as part of Kim's push to revive the economy by promoting tourism despite border closures since 2020 due to the pandemic.
  • The resort includes hotels, pools, sports, and recreation facilities accommodating nearly 20,000 guests, with service starting for domestic tourists July 1 and no clear date for foreigners.
  • Kim Jong Un praised the project as one of the country’s most significant achievements this year and expressed confidence that it would create a 'wave of happiness,' establishing the site as a world-class tourist and cultural destination.
  • North Korea plans to build more large tourist zones swiftly, will likely welcome Russian tourists first, but remains uncertain about when it will fully reopen to other foreign visitors.

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Key points from the Right

  • North Korea has opened the Wonsan Kalma beach resort, which can accommodate nearly 20,000 guests, as reported by the Korean Central News Agency.
  • Leader Kim Jong-un attended the completion ceremony, stating the resort's development showcases a "brilliant reality" for North Korea.
  • The Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area will open for domestic guests from July 1, with plans for broader tourism development announced by Kim since 2014, according to KCNA.
  • The Russian ambassador and embassy staff attended the ceremony, signaling future cooperation on tourism between Russia and North Korea, according to KCNA.

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