Ah, North Korea. The land of strict regimes, mystery, and now, apparently, luxury beach resorts. Who would’ve thought?
In a plot twist straight out of a travel magazine, Kim Jong Un himself took a break from missile launches to visit the under-construction Wonsan-Kalma coastal resort, which is being hyped as North Korea’s attempt at a world-class tourist destination.
According to NHK, on Tuesday (16/7/2024), the Supreme Leader of North Korea decided to drop by and personally inspect the development. Construction of this military-built paradise began in early 2018 but hit a snag thanks to, you guessed it, the pandemic.
The resort is no small feat. With thousands of hotel rooms and hundreds of buildings sprawled across 605 acres (245 hectares) of pristine white sandy beach, this place is aiming high. Some curious Russian tourists even managed a sneak peek earlier this year, and recent analysis by NK Pro has shown that they’ve added beach chairs, paved new roads, and ramped up construction at a nearby airport.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Kim’s first visit to Wonsan-Kalma in over five years, where he declared that the construction was in its final stages. Cue the victory fanfare.
In a very on-brand move, Kim held a consultation meeting with top officials in an air-conditioned tent—because why not? It looked like a Politburo meeting room plopped onto the beach. They discussed practical matters like making sure the resort is actually, you know, operational by its grand opening next May.
Kim warned that the resort’s value as a tourist hotspot would plummet if the service quality and operations were subpar. So he ordered additional work to build amusement parks, recreation areas, waste and sewage treatment facilities, and to train experts for all services.
Earlier this week, state media reported that Kim was keen on inviting “friendly foreign friends” to the northern Samjiyon tourist zone, raising questions about whether Western tourists will remain persona non grata while Russians, Chinese, and other politically cozy nations get the green light.
The Thursday report didn’t spill all the beans, but Kim hinted at plans to start allowing more foreign tourists once again after slamming the borders shut in January 2020 and keeping them closed for most of the pandemic until about a year ago.
Zoe Stephens, a tour leader with Koryo Tours, said the sheer scale of the Wonsan-Kalma project suggests it’s aimed at both foreign and domestic tourists, given that domestic tourism is also a significant industry there.
Foreign tourists might not bring in loads of cash, but they could still keep the resort afloat. While the opening plans don’t mean international tourism will resume any time soon, Stephens sees it as a step in the right direction.
Of course, being one of the most closed-off and tightly controlled countries globally, North Korea isn’t likely to let tourists roam free. Those lucky enough to visit Wonsan will probably be confined to the resort zone under the watchful eyes of government minders.
Kim also mentioned Yombunjin, Riwon, Kumya, Majon, Mount Kumgang, and Mount Chilbo. Because why stop at one resort when you can have a bunch?
He even held a similar meeting on another beach in Sinpho regarding a new fish farming project. Because when you’re Kim Jong Un, overseeing beach resorts and fish farms is just another day at the office.