In brief
After its grand opening in July, North Korea's Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone will not host foreign tourists, as indicated by a recent announcement on the nation’s tourism website. The ban follows initial visits from Russian tourists and the planned launch of direct flights between Moscow and Pyongyang.
North Korea has recently put an unexpected halt to foreign tourist access at its newly inaugurated seaside resort, the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone. Premium aspects of the tourist zone included hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, and a water park packed along 4km (2.5 miles) of beachfront. This tourist hub was initially unveiled on July 1st, viewing it as crucial to leader Kim Jong Un's aspiration to bolster the country's tourism sector.However, a sudden announcement on this week's tourism website proclaimed that foreign tourists would not be allowed "temporarily" into the resort. This move comes shortly after the arrival of the first Russian tourists at Wonsan, coinciding with a visit from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov who described the site as a "good tourist attraction.” Anticipation thus arose for upcoming direct flights connecting Moscow and Pyongyang, set to launch by the month's end.The coastal city of Wonsan holds strategic significance as it houses missile facilities and has historical ties to Kim's upbringing amid elite holiday villas. Human rights organizations have raised alarms over the reported labor conditions faced by those constructing the resort. The workers allegedly faced long hours under difficult circumstances with inadequate pay.Though international tourism had recently been rekindled post-pandemic, with limited visits from Russia and various Western nations, the abrupt cessation of foreign access this month adds another layer of mystery to North Korea's tourism strategy.
