North Korea will open a beach resort on its east coast next week in what authoritarian leader Kim Jong-un hopes will be the “first step” on the path to developing the country’s tourism sector.
The Wonsan-Kalma coastal tourist zone, which spans a 4-kilometre section of beach, comprises hotels, restaurants, shopping centres and a water park, according to state media.
Building began in the area in 2018, but was delayed by both construction problems and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The zone, which can accommodate roughly 20,000 guests a year, will receive its first domestic visitors on Tuesday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. It is not known when international tourists will follow.
At the resort’s grand opening on Tuesday, Kim was accompanied by his wife, Ri Sol-ju, and their daughter, Kim Ju-ae, who is his presumed heir.
Russian Ambassador Alexander Matsegora also attended as a special guest, the KCNA confirmed.
The state-run news agency reported Kim as saying that the completion of Wonsan-Kalma would be “one of the greatest successes this year”, adding that the site was “the proud first step” towards boosting the country’s tourism industry.
Analysts say Russian visitors will likely be granted access before other foreigners, given the close relationship between the two countries.
North Korea and Russia deepened their alliance last year by signing a mutual defence treaty. Pyongyang has also sent thousands of troops to its neighbour to help with its war against Ukraine.
“I think North Korea will soon accept Russian tourists, given the Russian embassy officials attended the ceremony,” said Lee Sangkeun, an expert at South Korea’s Institute for National Security Strategy, a think tank run by Seoul’s intelligence agency.
“There seems to be issues that North Korea hasn’t yet resolved in its relations with China. But North Korea has put in too much money on tourism and plans to spend more. Subsequently, to get its money’s worth, North Korea can’t help receiving Chinese tourists,” Lee added.
Pyongyang’s foreign tourist ban, which was implemented in 2020 during the pandemic, still has not been fully lifted. However, Russian groups have been permitted to visit certain parts of the country.
Additional sources • AP
