North Korea to open beach resort as Kim bets on tourism

Source: BBC News [UK State Media]

“North Korea is opening a beach resort that its leader Kim Jong Un hopes will boost tourism in the secretive communist regime, state media reports. Wonsan Kalma on the east coast will open to domestic tourists on 1 July, six years after it was due to be completed. It is unclear when it will welcome foreigners. Kim grew up in luxury in Wonsan, where many of the country’s elite have private villas, and has been trying to transform the town, which once hosted a missile testing site. State media KCNA claims the resort can accomodate up to 20,000 visitors, occupying a 4km (2.5 mile) stretch of beach, with hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and a water park – none of which can be verified. Heavily sanctioned for decades for its nuclear weapons programme, North Korea is among the poorest countries in the world.” (06/26/25)

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy0w59r54w9o