27-06-2025

North Korea Launches Large Coastal Resort for Tourists

Date: 27-06-2025
Sources: cbsnews.com: 1 | foxnews.com: 1 | news.sky.com: 1
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Image Source:

Source: foxnews.com

Image content: The image depicts a group of individuals, including four men and one woman, gathered behind a blue barrier adorned with red and white roses. The men, all dressed in black suits and white shirts, are engaged in cutting a red ribbon with scissors, while the woman stands to their left, applauding. The men appear to be participating in a ceremonial event, likely a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new building or facility. The presence of the North Korean flag in the background suggests that this event may be related to a significant occasion or celebration in North Korea.

Summary

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has opened a large resort in the Wonsan-Kalma coastal area, capable of hosting 20,000 visitors, initially. The site is set to be opened to domestic tourists soon and may accept visitors from certain nations like Russia and China in the future. The development is seen as a major milestone in North Korea's efforts to revive its tourism sector, which has been closed off to most foreigners due to COVID-19 and geopolitical issues.

Key Points

  • North Korea is set to open the Wonsan-Kalma coastal tourist zone, a massive resort capable of accommodating 20,000 visitors, marking a significant development in its efforts to boost the sector.
  • The resort's launch is initially aimed at domestic visitors, with potential future openings for international tourists, particularly from countries with relatively better ties to the nation.
  • Despite the resort's grand launch, the country has been cautious in fully reopening to international tourism due to ongoing geopolitical issues and tensions, especially with the US and South Korea.

Articles in this Cluster

North Korea set to open its biggest tourist site, though it still largely blocks foreigners - CBS News

North Korea is set to open its largest tourist site, the Wonsan-Kalma coastal tourist zone, next week, initially to domestic tourists. The site has accommodations for nearly 20,000 guests and features various recreational activities. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inaugurated the site, calling it a "proud first step" in developing tourism. While there is no word on when the country will fully reopen to foreign visitors, Russian tourists are expected to visit in July, and experts believe Chinese tourists will follow. However, tours from South Korea and the US are unlikely to resume soon due to ongoing tensions.

North Korea unveils massive coastal resort but foreign tourists must wait | Fox News

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un cut the inaugural tape at a new coastal tourist site, the Wonsan-Kalma coastal tourist zone, which can accommodate nearly 20,000 guests. The resort, North Korea's biggest tourist site, will open to domestic tourists next Tuesday, but it's unclear when it will be open to foreign tourists. Experts believe North Korea will eventually need to accept foreign tourists, likely starting with Chinese and Russian visitors, to recoup its investment, but has been slow to resume international tourism due to COVID-19 curbs and tensions with the US and South Korea.

North Korea opens huge coastal resort as Kim Jong Un celebrates 'one of the greatest successes this year' | World News | Sky News

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has opened a massive coastal resort in Wonsan, calling it a significant step towards developing the country's tourism industry. The Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area can accommodate 20,000 visitors and is set to open to domestic tourists soon. Kim Jong Un toured the site with his daughter and wife, and the resort's opening was attended by Russia's ambassador to North Korea. While the resort may one day open to foreign tourists, North Korea has not yet lifted its ban on foreign tourism, imposed in 2020 due to the pandemic, although it has accepted some Russian tourists since February 2024.