▲ This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on July 2, 2025, shows the North opening the Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area the previous day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
▲ This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on July 2, 2025, shows the North opening the Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area the previous day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

N Korea-beach resort

N. Korea opens large-scale coastal tourist zone this week

SEOUL, July 2 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has opened a large-scale coastal tourist zone in the eastern region, state media reported Wednesday, as the country seeks to nurture the tourism industry in an apparent bid to secure much-needed foreign currency amid international sanctions.

The Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area opened Tuesday, attracting many guests across the country, including from Pyongyang and North Hamgyong Province, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un celebrated the completion of the construction of the beach resort last week, touting it as one of the country's greatest feats this year. The North said the new tourist zone will start service for domestic tourists July 1.

"At a time when many workers from the country are aspiring for travel to the magnificent tourist attraction which is unparalleled in the world, many guests visited the zone on the first day of its service," the KCNA said.

North Korea's state media earlier described the beach resort as housing hotels and hostels capable of accommodating nearly 20,000 guests, both domestic and foreign. It is equipped with facilities for swimming in the sea, sports and recreation, as well as commercial and public catering services.

The project, which began in 2014, was completed after the construction was halted due to material shortages caused by international sanctions and the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020.

North Korea is expected to open the tourist site to foreign guests this month. Russia's Tass news agency reported a group of Russian tourists will visit the Wonsan Kalma tourist zone for the first time on July 7.

South Korea's unification ministry said the number of foreign tourists visiting the area may fall short of the North's expectations due to its poor transportation.

Up to 170 foreign tourists are likely to visit the zone on a daily basis, given flight routes connecting Pyongyang and the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok, according to the ministry.

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