North Korea’s New Coastal Resort: Can Tourists Go?

North Korea’s New Coastal Resort: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un praised the opening of a massive new resort on the country’s east coast, calling it one of the “greatest feats” of the year. Officials have positioned the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area, located in the port city of Wonsan, as the centerpiece of Pyongyang’s efforts to boost its tourism sector. South Korean media have dubbed the destination “North Korea’s Waikiki.”

Kim appeared at the inauguration event wearing a dark suit instead of his usual Mao-style attire, accompanied by his wife Ri Sol-Ju and daughter Kim Ju-ae. After more than a decade of development and rising construction costs, Kim celebrated the project as a “brilliant reality.”

Inside The Wonsan Kalma Coastal Resort:

The resort spans a 2.5-mile stretch along the Kalma Peninsula’s seashore, where planners have arranged more than 400 buildings symmetrically and harmoniously along the white sand beach. The site features high-rise hotels and seaside villas, along with various entertainment and service facilities, including a water park, gym, concert hall, department store, beer hall, restaurants, and even auto-related services like an auto shop and car wash.

North Korean state media described the resort as a “world-class cultural resort” capable of accommodating up to 20,000 visitors. Authorities began construction in 2016 with a target to complete it by 2018. However, they repeatedly delayed the timeline due to pandemic-related lockdowns and international sanctions. Kim Jong-un, who has shown strong personal interest in tourism development, stated that the resort would “play a leading role in shaping North Korea’s tourist culture.”

Who all are allowed?

The resort currently welcomes only domestic travelers. On Tuesday, July 1, KCNA reported that tourists from across the country began arriving at the site. State media showed locals enjoying the beach in colorful swimwear. According to KCNA, North Korean visitors of all ages expressed amazement at the grandeur and beauty of the tourist city. It added that “more than 400… artistically designed buildings lined the white sandy beach in ideal harmony.”

However, Seoul’s unification ministry noted that limited flight options will likely keep international tourism to the resort small scale. The ministry stated that the number of tourists able to visit Pyongyang may remain restricted to about 170 individuals per day.

Take a look at the post:

The Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area is a precious fruition of the grand plan and wise leadership of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un who regards the people's laughter and happiness as a symbol of the socialist system and the standard of national power assessment pic.twitter.com/x8SBGelHQP

— KFA-UK (@Korea_Friend_UK) July 4, 2025

Are Foreigners allowed?

North Korea appears to have made an early exception for Russian vacationers despite its general ban on foreign visitors to the resort. According to a report by the Russian news agency Tass, the first group of Russian tourists will arrive this week. South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported that the trio will begin their eight-day trip on July 7.

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Firstpost reports that the itinerary includes a domestic flight from Pyongyang to Wonsan on July 8, four nights at the Kalma resort, one night at the nearby Masikryong ski resort, and a final day of city touring. This trip comes as North Korea and Russia strengthen their bilateral ties following the signing of a mutual defense treaty in 2024. Reports suggest that as the relationship between the two nations deepens, Russia may have helped Pyongyang develop the resort.

Take a look at the post:

The new Wonsan Kalma Coast Tourist Area receives its first guests who are all DPRK citizens pic.twitter.com/mTHL409tJj

— KFA-UK (@Korea_Friend_UK) July 2, 2025

Are Russians Willing To Visit North Korea?

Although North Korea currently allows Russian tourists to visit, analysts remain skeptical about how appealing the destination truly is to them. Unlike the hundreds of thousands of Chinese tourists who visited North Korea annually in the past, fewer than 900 Russians traveled there for leisure in 2024, according to an NPR report citing Russian customs data.

Lee Sangkeun, a researcher at the Seoul-based Institute for National Security Strategy, believes that travelers from major Russian cities may not consider North Korea an attractive option. He points to the country’s strict regulations, constant surveillance, and poor infrastructure as key deterrents. He also highlights North Korea’s vulnerability to shifts in global politics as another factor that could limit the growth of international tourism.

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