North Korea opens massive beach resort to boost tourism

North Korea has opened a massive "world-class cultural resort" on its eastern coast, state media said on Wednesday.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shared images of tourists enjoying the beach in swimwear as the tourist zone opened to domestic visitors on Tuesday.

"The guests' hearts were filled with overwhelming emotion as they felt the astonishing new heights of our-style tourism culture blossoming under the era of the Workers' Party," KCNA said.


The agency said tourists were "astonished by the grandeur and splendor of the tourist city, which can accommodate nearly 20,000 people.

South Korean media referred to the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area as "North Korea's Waikiki."

What is the significance of the project?

Analysts say North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is very keen on developing the tourism industry, especially the coastal areas. The Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area is believed to be one of his pet projects.

Kim said construction of the site would go down as "one of the greatest successes this year" and that Pyongyang will build more large-scale tourist zones.

Images of Kim with his daughter Ju Ae and wife Ri Sol Ju watching a man flying off a water slide in the resort were shared days ahead of the opening.

Russian tourists are also expected to visit the zone from July 7 for an 8-day trip which includes a visit to Pyongyang, as per a statement from Russia's Primorsky region.

South Korea's Unification Ministry said the site is expected to expand over time. But given limited transportation to the destination via Pyongyang, the resort is "likely to remain small in scale," with around 170 visitors per day.

Experts say Pyongyang has received some aid from Russia to develop this site, in exchange for help with Moscow's war in Ukraine.

What kind of tourism does North Korea get?

For North Korea, tourism is potentially a good source of acquiring foreign currency.

After remaining closed since the COVID-19 pandemic, North Korea finally opened its borders to visitors. But even before that, the number of foreign tourists was very limited.

Chinese tourists made up about 90 percent of visitors with only about 5,000 western tourists being allowed. But Chinese tourists seem to have stayed away as questions remain about ties between Beijing and Pyongyang.

After the pandemic, Russian tourists were only allowed last year and Western tourists briefly returned in February 2025.

US tourists used to make up about 20 percent of foreign tourists. But Washington banned travel to North Korea after the imprisonment and death of student Otto Warmbier.

South Koreans travelled to Mount Kumgang at the border until 2008, when a tourist was shot dead by a North Korean soldier.