North Korea has officially opened the Wonsan Kalma resort, a project heavily backed by leader Kim Jong Un, who attended a ceremony on June 24 to celebrate its completion. The event was emblematic of the regime’s hypocrisy and a huge accomplishment for the regime’s supporters. It targeted increasing domestic tourism and restarting the country’s economy in the wake of COVID-19.
Kim Jong Un was present with his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, at the ceremony marking the launch. So too was his wife, Ri Sol Ju. This event was Ri Sol Ju’s first public appearance since the New Year’s Day celebration. It attracted huge interest from local and international observers as well. New resort Wonsan Kalma resort, strategically located on the east coast of North Korea. It runs along a gorgeous 4-kilometer (2.5 miles) beach and can hold up to 20,000 people.
The resort boasts a beautiful blend of facilities and amenities! Experience luxury hotels, restaurants and shopping complexes, as well as India’s largest and most exciting water park for an extraordinary tourism experience. Originally scheduled for an October 2019 opening, the project faced delays from construction challenges and COVID-19 related limitations on nightlife. After a six-year hold on building, the resort is finally poised to welcome domestic tourists beginning July 1.
Wonsan is personally very important to Kim Jong Un. Given his family’s stature, he presumably spent much of his childhood there, playing among the private villas of many of North Korea’s luminaries. His big dream is to turn Wonsan—once known mainly as a missile test site—into Korea’s premier resort. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) heralded the resort’s development as a “great, auspicious event of the whole country” and a “prelude to the new era” in tourism.
The ceremony was attended by Russian ambassador Alexander Matsegora and embassy staff, hinting at potential international interest in the resort. Wonsan Kalma Perhaps the most optimistic of tour operators think Wonsan Kalma could have Russian tourists any day now. Lately, these adventurers have been allowed access to certain regions of North Korea. Meanwhile, the direct passenger train route between Pyongyang and Moscow that many international visitors take reopened as well. This route was suspended for five of the pandemic and now it provides much more convenient travel between the two.
Still, even with these advancements, experts are wary about the future of international tourism in North Korea. Rowan Beard, a tourism analyst, commented on the situation:
“I was hoping this might signal a broader reopening to international tourism, but unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case for now.”
Beard noted that some headline venues such as Pyongyang itself and Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) will still lure curious global tourists. When international tourism does come back, these places will be the stars.
Travel expert Elliott Davies highlighted the unique cultural context of North Korea’s beach resort scene:
“It’s intriguing to experience something as familiar as a beach resort that’s been shaped within the unique cultural context of North Korea.”
At the same time, North Korea is preparing to boost its domestic tourism by fully opening the Wonsan Kalma resort. The larger effect on international tourism is not yet known. The country’s political landscape is changing by the minute. At the same time, public health concerns will surely affect its capacity to draw foreign visitors in the months ahead.