North Korea inaugurated its largest coastal tourist zone, the Wonsan‑Kalma resort, on June 24, 2025. Capable of hosting up to ~20,000 guests, it features hotels, restaurants, waterslides, and beach activities. Initially open only to domestic visitors from July 1, the resort marks a strategic push by Kim Jong Un to diversify the economy with tourism—potentially targeting Russian and Chinese tourists before fully reopening to foreigners.
North Korea has taken the wraps off a massive new project that’s been under development for almost a decade — the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, a stunning beach resort designed to signal a new chapter in the country’s economic ambitions. This sprawling complex on the country's eastern seaboard is not just a luxury destination, but a symbol of Kim Jong Un’s bold push to attract tourism income, especially in an era where most of the country’s traditional revenue streams are under strict international sanctions.
Unveiled officially on June 24, 2025, the resort is expected to open its doors to local tourists from July 1, with plans to eventually welcome foreigners. However, as of now, only domestic visitors are allowed, marking a cautious but clear move toward boosting internal tourism and preparing for international guests in the future.
The Wonsan-Kalma Tourist Zone is located along a picturesque stretch of the Sea of Japan, boasting around 4 kilometers of coastline filled with sandy beaches, resorts, hotels, entertainment venues, and water attractions. It has the capacity to host nearly 20,000 visitors at once, with accommodations ranging from five-star hotels to more modest lodgings for domestic tourists.
What makes this resort particularly ambitious is its modern infrastructure. The area includes newly constructed roads, swimming pools, restaurants, amusement areas, sports complexes, spas, and even a newly expanded airport nearby to handle expected future traffic. This isn’t just a beach—it's a fully developed city-like zone built purely for tourism.
North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, is known for his high-stakes infrastructure projects that aim to uplift the economy without sacrificing political control. With international sanctions heavily limiting North Korea’s ability to trade or generate income through conventional exports, tourism stands out as one of the few un-sanctioned sources of foreign currency.
Kim believes that projects like Wonsan-Kalma can not only boost the local economy but also change the perception of North Korea globally. In his recent public address, he called the resort one of the “greatest achievements of the year” and a \model for future development zones\.
However, this is not North Korea's first attempt at tourism. In recent years, projects like the Masikryong Ski Resort and Yangdok Hot Springs Resort have also been introduced, but due to the pandemic and closed borders, these initiatives never reached their full potential.
Initially, the resort will be limited to North Korean citizens, possibly to test the logistics and facilities before fully opening up to international tourists. However, there are signs that Russian visitors could be the first foreigners allowed in.
In fact, Russian diplomats and staff were invited to the opening ceremony, indicating a deeper tourism partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang. Since February 2024, North Korea has quietly allowed small groups of Russian tourists to enter, a hint of what might come next. There’s also speculation that Chinese tourists could be welcomed soon after, especially since China remains North Korea’s closest economic partner.
But for now, Western tourists, including Americans and South Koreans, remain blocked from visiting due to diplomatic tensions and safety concerns.
Construction of the Wonsan-Kalma Resort began back in 2014 and faced many delays, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the country to close its borders and halt most travel-related development.
Despite economic challenges, Kim insisted the project continue. The government allocated significant resources, manpower, and even military engineers to complete the resort. This shows how deeply invested the leadership is in the project’s success—not just financially, but politically. The resort is more than just a business venture; it’s a national prestige project.
While the opening marks a major milestone, experts are skeptical about the resort's financial viability. Without a consistent influx of foreign tourists, it's unlikely that the resort can make a meaningful return on the investment. Domestic tourism can only go so far in generating revenue, especially in a country with limited personal incomes.
Moreover, there's concern about whether North Korea has the necessary systems in place to provide a high-quality tourism experience. From proper hospitality training to multilingual staff, modern payment systems, and tourism safety protocols, much still needs to be done to match international standards.
Then there’s the issue of freedom of movement. Foreign tourists in North Korea are usually heavily supervised and restricted to approved routes and sites. This limits the type of vacation experience that international travelers expect.
The Wonsan-Kalma zone is accessible by road and air. The nearby Kalma International Airport was specifically renovated to handle increased tourist traffic. Flights from major cities in China or Russia could theoretically land here directly if diplomatic approvals are granted.
The city of Wonsan is also connected by expressway to the capital, Pyongyang, making it reachable by car or tour bus within a few hours. This ease of access shows that the government is serious about opening this part of the country to visitors—eventually.
While foreign media is not allowed to freely interview North Korean citizens, state-run channels have shown carefully selected local residents expressing excitement and pride about the new resort. For many North Koreans, even visiting the sea is a rare treat. Having access to such a large and modern leisure facility is a major step forward for local morale.
Some international observers, however, suggest this messaging is part of the regime’s propaganda strategy. It’s hard to verify the real public sentiment without free press or open social media from within the country.
If Wonsan-Kalma proves successful, it could become a blueprint for other similar projects across North Korea. Government planners have reportedly mapped out new tourist zones near Mount Kumgang, Pyongyang, and border cities like Sinuiju. The hope is to eventually turn tourism into a stable pillar of the North Korean economy.
But this future depends on many things—diplomatic relations, border reopening, safety assurances, and the regime’s willingness to ease restrictions on travelers. Without these, even the most luxurious resorts will struggle to draw guests.
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