North Korea’s long-delayed bid to turn its eastern coast into a luxury tourist hotspot appears to have faltered just weeks after launch. The Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, a sprawling beach resort along four kilometres of shoreline, officially opened on 1 July 2025. But by 17 July, the regime announced that foreign tourists would no longer be allowed to visit, without providing a reason.
Construction of the resort began in 2018 under Kim Jong-un’s personal directive to boost tourism revenue as part of the country’s byungjin strategy, a dual focus on economic development and nuclear power.
The opening, at the beginning of the month, was attended by Kim Jong-un, his daughter Kim Ju-ae, his wife Ri Sol-ju, Russian ambassador Alexander Matsegora and other embassy staff. Direct flights between Moscow and Pyongyang were expected to begin later in July.
Kim hailed the resort as ‘one of the greatest successes of the year’, a ‘proud first step’ in revitalising tourism, and personally appeared in the promotional campaign highlighting its beachfront hotels, water park, shopping centres and capacity to host 20,000 visitors annually.
North Korea has completed the Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist zone, a major east coast resort project promoted for years by leader Kim Jong Un to boost tourism, state media reported https://t.co/PyA9r2nW7c pic.twitter.com/cXkYwxjcx9
— Reuters (@Reuters) June 26, 2025
Shortly before the policy reversal, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited North Korea for what were described as ‘complex talks’ with his counterpart, Cho Son-hui, that no doubt extended beyond tourism. Although Lavrov praised the new resort as a ‘good tourist attraction’ and said, ‘I am sure Russian tourists will be increasingly eager to come here’, foreign access was revoked soon after his visit.
No official explanation was given for the sudden change, prompting widespread speculation. A Russian tour guide had already announced scheduled trips to the site, which have now been postponed. Earlier this year, small tourist groups from Australia, France, Germany and the United Kingdom were briefly allowed into North Korea, only to be barred again weeks later.
Some analysts believe the decision was prompted by negative media coverage. A Russian journalist reportedly claimed the resort appeared ‘fake’ and suggested that the visitors had been ‘mobilised’ by authorities rather than being genuine tourists. ‘The regime likely determined that opening the resort to foreigners would bring negative consequences’, said Oh Gyeong-seob of the Korea Institute for National Unification.
Others point to logistical and economic issues. Lee Sang-keun of the Institute for National Security Strategy cited the cost and difficulty of travelling from Russia, combined with the extremely strict rules imposed on visitors by North Korean authorities.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, more than 90 percent of foreign tourists to North Korea came from China. The Wonsan-Kalma resort was seen as a way to diversify its visitor base and attract hard currency. Tourism remains one of the few sectors not directly targeted by UN sanctions, and revenues reportedly increased by 400 percent between 2014 and 2019.
Human rights groups have condemned the conditions under which the resort was built, citing forced labour, harsh working environments and inadequate compensation for workers.
Many observers believe the ban will be temporary. ‘If foreign tourists aren’t allowed in, then no Russian rubles, Chinese yuan or US dollars will come in either. North Korea can’t break even and will have to shut it down’, explained Ahn Chan-il, head of the World Institute for North Korean Studies.
For now, North Korea’s dream riviera remains off limits to the world.
